photo The team
We’ve known that for a while now but Ligue 1 clubs overall have financial problems and very often end their balance sheets in negative. The Professional Football League (LFP) is still trying to find solutions to save French football but also to restructure it financially and make it more competitive.
Reduce the airfoil in Ligue 1
One of the first decisions taken is that from the end of the 2022/2023 season, Ligue 1 will go from 20 to 18 clubs with 4 descents for only 2 Ligue 2 climbs. It’s done and it will lighten the schedule and therefore the competitiveness of the teams.
Now, to improve the health of the clubs we learn in Team of the day that another decision could fall as early as next season: the reduction of staff to 25 professional players excluding new professional contracts! This would aim to reduce payroll but also ofclean up overcrowded locker rooms and “left out” or “out” players. The National Technical Department (DTN) relies on the fact that only 16-17 players are used in a season, with the rest playing rarely or not at all.
Reduced numbers, premium for training?
This downsizing is the idea of Vincent Labrune, President of the LFP but also of Jean-Marc Mickeler, Chairman of the National Management Control Department (DNCG). Each end of the season is approximately 30% of some 700 professional players of Ligue 1 who are in end of contract, or 210 players. If this proposal to move to 25 professional players (excluding new professional contracts) is confirmed, there will be more players on the floor this summer. The idea comes from the system already used in Champions League where 25 player names must be provided on a list, to take part in the competition.
“Training” clubs could be the big winners of this situation because the new professional contracts signed would therefore not appear in the 25 professional players. In addition, the player and club unions are discussing the terms of the first professional contracts (extension of the duration to 5 years in 3+1+1). This would allow French clubs to be able to keep their young people longer.
A “salary-cap” in Ligue 1 mode?
Another measure discussed within the competent authorities of French football, a generalized “salary-cap”. Clubs could not exceed the limit of 70% of their turnover for payroll. This will force teams to downsize this summer, without replacing. As for the cash inflows provided for by Capital Partners (CVC) they will also be checked. The clubs will not be able to spend this money anyhow but will have to offer a « plan for the use of aid ». The first amounts (€16.5 million) will be paid in July of this year and the rest in 2023 according to certain criteria in relation to these famous « use plans ».
What can this change for Bordeaux?
If these decisions are acted upon, Bordeaux will inevitably suffer the consequences, even if the classification at the end of the season (relegation or not) could change the situation on certain points. But to date, the Girondins of Bordeaux are among the most extensive clubs in terms of professional staff because there are no less than 46 professional players under contract with FCGB !!! Of these 46 players, « only » 4 are new pro contracts this season (Davy Rouyard, Tidiane Malbec, Malcom Bokélé, Johaneko Louisjean).
At the end of the season, the club will have at least 15 players out of contract :
- Costil, Malbec, Marcelo, Otavio, Briand, Traoré (end of contracts)
- Ahmedhodzic, Mangas, Mensah, Pembélé, Ignatenko Adli, Guilavogui, Dilrosun, Elis (end of loans)
However, this figure could be lower as we do not know exactly which players on loan have “mandatory” purchase options which will be lifted at the end of the season. Alberth Elis would be part of it even if to date we still have no official communication from the club…
Moreover, the Polish goalkeeper Rafal Straczek will be an additional contract starting July 1st.
Here is a forecast of the number of professional contracts on July 1, the date of the new 2022/2023 season, at the Girondins de Bordeaux (excluding possible transfers, purchase options exercised, etc.):
- Guardians (3): Poussin, Rouyard, Straczek
- Defenders (10): Gregersen, Medioub, Mexer, Baysse, Kwateng, Boudechicha, Louisjean, Sow, Bokélé, Bellanova
- Backgrounds (8): Onana, Fransergio, Sissokho, Lacoux, Depussay, Pascal, Boujouama, Pirringuel
- Forwards (11): Mara, Zerkane, Hwang, Niang, Oudin, Bakwa, Klidjé, Delaurier-Chaubet, Haruna, Ouattara, Maja
We would therefore be 32 players at the start of the 2022/2023 season with the view that the club would not exercise any purchase option and including loan returns. We also do not take into account the future recruits who will come. We are therefore far from 25 professional contracts maximum envisaged. Things are going to happen this summer, it could be very eventful, descent or not in League 2.