Property of the municipality of Bordeaux, the Château de Haillan and its surroundings were made available to the club by the city. An employment contract that has become obsolete since the bankruptcy filing led to the downfall of the scapular-wearing football team.
In the town hall there is a desire to soften the fall of the Girondins of Bordeaux as much as possible. However, the football club relegated to National 2 in July renounced its professional status and declared bankruptcy. Since October, more than three quarters of its one hundred employees have been covered by a social plan. A reduction in staff and a change in status which makes the temporary employment contract granted to the club by the Municipality obsolete. This agreement, which allowed the Girondins of Bordeaux to use the Château du Haillan and two surrounding areas for the modest sum of 16,000 euros per year, must therefore be renegotiated.
“No decision has been made. It would be hasty, he immediately wants to reassure Mathieu Hazouard, the deputy mayor of Bordeaux with responsibility for sport. For the moment we are strengthening the sporting dimension of the place and are evaluating transitional solutions. The management of the infrastructure dedicated to the practice of amateur football in the Haillan plain was therefore taken over by the municipality. The professional space, the subject of a long administrative lease for a symbolic euro until 2060, is still available to the scapular club. This is the question of the use of the castle and its surroundings, which will have to be resolved by the end of November.
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“To the closest euro”
Concretely, the municipal majority observes with pragmatism that the Girondins de Bordeaux will not be able to return to Ligue 2 for at least two years. As soon as the club has “he expressed his needs”of “provisions” it must therefore be implemented “don’t leave empty square meters”. “Despite the low rent, the castle must be maintained. The club has only 10 employees and closes its budgets to the nearest euro.explains Mathieu Hazouard.
In other words, Girondins employees still on site are expected to share the premises soon. A necessary development according to the Municipality which insists on its will “Finding a good balance to strengthen the club without penalizing the city”. When contacted, the Girondins de Bordeaux have not yet responded to our requests. As regards the two adjacent football fields, the situation has already been regularised. The city’s infrastructure is rented for 80 euros an hour for each Girondins de Bordeaux training session.
What strategies is the Bordeaux municipality implementing to support the Girondins de Bordeaux in their recovery process?
Interview with Mathieu Hazouard, Deputy Mayor of Bordeaux Responsible for Sports
Editor of Time.news: Thank you for joining us today, Mathieu. The recent developments concerning the Girondins de Bordeaux have undoubtedly raised many eyebrows. Can you explain the current status of the football club?
Mathieu Hazouard: Thank you for having me. Yes, the situation is indeed concerning. The Girondins de Bordeaux have faced significant challenges recently, including relegation to National 2 and ultimately declaring bankruptcy. As a result, they’ve renounced their professional status and, unfortunately, more than three-quarters of their staff are now covered by a social plan.
Editor: That’s a significant turn of events. How does the municipality plan to support the club during this transition period?
Mathieu Hazouard: Our primary objective is to soften the impact of these changes as much as possible. We’re committed to reinforcing the sporting aspects of the facilities at Château de Haillan. Although the club is in a difficult place, we’re exploring transitional solutions to help stabilize the situation.
Editor: Speaking of Château de Haillan, there seems to be a change regarding its usage. Can you elaborate on that?
Mathieu Hazouard: Absolutely. The agreement that allowed the Girondins to utilize the castle and its surrounding areas for a symbolic fee has become obsolete due to their change in status. This means we need to renegotiate the terms of this agreement. The professional space is still available to them under a long-term lease, but we are assessing how to manage the infrastructure for amateur football in the region moving forward.
Editor: It sounds like there’s a lot of negotiation on the horizon. What are the major challenges you foresee as you approach these discussions?
Mathieu Hazouard: One significant challenge will be balancing the interests of the club, the municipality, and the community. The future of amateur football in Bordeaux is vital, and we want to ensure that the facilities continue to serve that purpose while also addressing the financial realities faced by the Girondins. We need to find a solution that honors both the club’s history and the aspirations of local athletes.
Editor: Community involvement in sports is crucial. How do you envision the community’s role during this transition?
Mathieu Hazouard: Engaging the community is essential. Their passion for football is what makes the Girondins de Bordeaux an integral part of Bordeaux’s identity. We want to ensure that local voices are heard in the decision-making process. Workshops and community meetings will be crucial to gather feedback and ideas as we navigate these changes.
Editor: That’s encouraging to hear. What timeline are we looking at for these negotiations and potential changes in usage of Château de Haillan?
Mathieu Hazouard: We aim to resolve the situation by the end of November. It’s important that we act thoughtfully but promptly, considering the urgency of the circumstances. The discussions will involve various stakeholders to ensure we develop a comprehensive plan moving forward.
Editor: Mathieu, your commitment to the club and the community is evident. Any final thoughts you’d like to share with our readers about the future of the Girondins de Bordeaux?
Mathieu Hazouard: I firmly believe in the resilience of both the club and the city. While these are challenging times, we have a dedicated community of supporters and athletes, and I am confident that we will find a way forward together. We appreciate everyone’s support during this transition, and I urge fans to stay hopeful and engaged.
Editor: Thank you, Mathieu. We look forward to seeing how this situation evolves and wish you the best in your negotiations and community engagement efforts.
Mathieu Hazouard: Thank you! It was a pleasure speaking with you.