Bordeaux (AFP)

Persistent crisis with the supporters, controversy with the new mayor of Bordeaux, desire to leave coach Paulo Sousa, investigation by the labor inspectorate on the use of short-time working ... The Girondins had a terrible, sinking week every day a little more in the crisis.

At the center of the problem, as for several months: tensions between President Frédéric Longuépée and his main opponents, the group of Ultramarines supporters, supported by a number of former players. These ultras are standing against the American shareholder King Street and the management of the club, whose resignation they are demanding.

"It has gradually deteriorated and we have the impression that we have reached a (point of) no return. For my part, from a distance, I am very surprised by this situation", deplored AFP former midfielder Johan Micoud, champion in 1999 in the scapular jersey.

To push the leaders at the start, the supporters regularly broadcast soundtracks, the “Girondins Leaks +”, pointing out the practices of the management and its teams.

Thus, in one of them, the director of commercial strategy, stadium and network Antony Thiodet declared that he managed "32 people" and that those who were on leave or in "partial unemployment continued to work" during the confinement.

- Logo, drop of water -

These words, while the government had promised the utmost firmness against companies that defraud the device by continuing to work employees placed on partial unemployment, may have precipitated a control: throughout this week, the labor inspectorate went to the premises of the Girondins to examine whether the club had respected the law.

To make their voices heard, the supporters also took advantage of the sounding board for the municipal elections: last Saturday, more than 2,000 gathered in front of the Town Hall. They were heard by the new mayor because on Monday, the environmentalist Pierre Hurmic, winner of the poll, asked for the resignation of Mr. Longuépée.

"A club cannot afford the luxury of going against the main fan club and treating them with such contempt and arrogance," said the man who voted when he was in opposition against the sale of the club by M6 to the American investment funds GACP and King Street.

This municipal speech had no effect. On the contrary, Mr. Longuépée has received the support of the Premier League and UCPF unions, which represent the Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 clubs, which denounced the "completely unacceptable interference" of the new mayor.

- Future and DNCG -

If the president of the Girondins then wanted to "appease the situation" by announcing that he would not file a complaint against the Ultramarines for the + Girondins Leaks +, he relaunched the controversy in another way. This time, it focused on the new logo of the club which puts more emphasis on the name of the city of Bordeaux than the historic title of the club, "Girondins".

New outcry from the Ultramarines. "You make us ashamed .... Your + graphic identity + with two balls will never be that of the Girondins. The negation of the will of the people continues, you will suffer its fury", tweeted their manager Florian Brunet.

On Wednesday, Portuguese coach Paulo Sousa, visibly tired, announced for his part his executive players his intention to leave the Bordeaux ship.

His reasons: incompatibility at all levels with its president, the lack of ambition displayed, the means at its disposal ... A laconic statement of four lines of the club took note Thursday evening of this decision, even if Sousa, under contract until 2022, continued to lead training sessions this week.

Now, the next episode of the soap is scheduled for Tuesday in front of the DNCG, the financial gendarme of French football. The management of the club, whose deficit fluctuates between 40 and 50 million euros according to the media, will play both its future and its credibility.

We will then see more clearly as to the continuation of the transfer window and the sports future of the Girondins ...

© 2020 AFP