Bought for a symbolic euro from Gérard Lopez by the English investors of Park Bench, the Girondins de Bordeaux are now embarking on a new stage to validate their recovery plan. Erasure of debts, judicial and administrative decisions, hoped-for restart in Regional 1: the challenges of this reconstruction are numerous.
The Girondins de Bordeaux bought, and after? On the night of Tuesday September 29 to Wednesday September 30, the scapular club found a buyer: the English investment fund Park Bench. The investors bought, for a symbolic euro, the club from Gérard Lopez and undertake to repay the club's debt, lowered to 13 million euros. “This signing marks a major step for the future of FC Girondins de Bordeaux,” indicates the club in a message on its social networks.
What’s next?
The agreement signed between Gérard Lopez and the four investors of Park Bench actually only marks the beginning of the “reconstruction process” of the club. The agreement must now be validated by the Bordeaux commercial court. “It must in fact validate the modification of the continuity plan,” explains Christophe Lepetit, sports economist at the Limoges sports law and economics center. They will then have to appear before the regional management control committee of the clubs of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine Football League to present their new budget and their recovery plan with a view to being able to play in Regional 1.
Hearings and decisions which should be taken in the coming days, in view of the sporting emergency. “It’s the end of September and the Girondins have to start their season, it’s urgent. They have only played two Coupe de France matches,” recalls Christophe Lepetit.
What about debts?
In the agreement, the buyers therefore undertake to repay approximately 13 million euros of the club's debts, compared to 26 initially, spread this time over twelve years compared to ten in the previous plan. A reduction in debt which can be explained by new negotiations in particular with Fortress and the former coach, Vladimir Petkovic. “In this plan, not all creditors will be reimbursed, as was already the case in the previous continuation plan,” indicates Christophe Lepetit. Some debts will be crushed and reduced to zero.
Gérard Lopez agreed to sell his securities and abandon his debts. He also chose to waive his return to better fortunes clause, a provision which made it possible to obtain future reimbursement of his abandoned debts in the event of a better financial situation for the club.
The state, for its part, would have agreed to reduce its VAT and URSSAF debts by 50%, for a total amount of around 9.5 million euros. “We must therefore understand that part of the social and fiscal cost will be borne by Bordeaux and French taxpayers,” continues the economist.
Who is Park Bench?
The English investment fund defines itself rather as a “collective of private investors”. Accustomed to football fields, they notably own, in minority shares, the Cordoba club in Spain, that of Sofia in Bulgaria but also, Dunfermline Athletic which plays in Scottish D2, bought in 2025.
The founder of the investment fund, James Bord, a former banker based in Las Vegas, is also the head of Short Circuit Science, a company specializing in data processing and artificial intelligence to improve sports performance. Alongside him, Jeremy Green founded Redmile Group which became one of the world's largest investors in biotechnology.
Why invest in the Girondins de Bordeaux?
If the investment fund has been in negotiations for several months, ensuring their “support” for the club from the start, the reasons which motivate the four men have not been clarified.
On the one hand, there is the hope of recreating a club “living up to its history”. “These are people interested in football and they were looking for the possibility of rebuilding a club from almost zero,” explains Christophe Lepetit. A sporting hope that joins the financial one: by riding on a brand that still works today, investors could hope to achieve a good deal in the medium term, if the club restores its image.
Local attachment is also a possible explanation. Jeremy Green, who could become the main shareholder of the Girondins, explained that he knows Bordeaux well, thanks to his partner who works in the wine industry in California, and after having lived for a few years post-Brexit in Paris.
Finally, there is also the question of the Atlantic stadium. In the agreement, Park Bench could also buy the stadium in Bordeaux Métropole. The investment fund could then see another source of income, with the organization of cultural or sporting events.
And the athlete?
Before the validation of the continuity plan, it is difficult to project the sporting future of the Girondins de Bordeaux. The club, which aims to play in Regional 1 this season, should retain its general director of two years, Arnaud Saint-André and the coach of its first team, Arnaud Cormier.
