He made his announcement on Wednesday afternoon by bringing together club employees.

The president of Angers SCO, Saïd Chabane, has confirmed that the Ligue 1 club is on the verge of being sold, we learned from a close source, who speaks of “well advanced” negotiations.

No official information has filtered on the identity of the buyer but it could be an American investment fund named GFS, according to the newspaper L'Equipe.

The town hall of Angers for its part confirmed in a press release that the president of the club had called the mayor Christophe Béchu "to let him know that he was entering into exclusive negotiations with a view to the transfer of the majority of the club to buyers" .

“The city of Angers takes note of this announcement and its prospects.

The mayor will have the opportunity to meet the candidates for the takeover of the club in the coming weeks, ”she said.

Put under pressure by the DNCG

CEO of the Cosnelle group specializing in charcuterie and cured meats, Saïd Chabane, 57, previously owned 99% of the capital of the club, which he joined in 2011. Son of a lawyer of Kabyle origin, Chabane arrived in France at 23 to complete his engineering training.

In February 2020, he was indicted for aggravated sexual violence, following complaints from four young women, employees or former employees of the club.

In September 2021, he was indicted for similar facts following complaints from two other women.

The sale process comes as the SCO, which recently ensured its maintenance in L1 for next season, badly needs to straighten out its finances.

Since July 2021 and a muscular intervention by the DNCG, the financial policeman of French football, Angers has sought to reduce its payroll.

Over the 2020-2021 season, the club posted an operating deficit of EUR 31 million, according to figures from the DNCG.

Saïd Chabane had been looking for a new investor for several months, which he referred to last year as “a question of survival”.

According to club observers, the business manager did not have the financial scale to ensure the future of the club, especially since several important players will have to be replaced during the summer transfer window and that, next season, the threat of demotion will be increased with four clubs relegated from L1 to L2 to reduce the elite of French football to 18 teams.

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