FC Girondins de Bordeaux are in dire straits having seen their professional status revoked following bankruptcy. The fallen giant, demoted to the Championnat National 2, the fourth tier of French football, are now looking to rebuild as an amateur side. 

Bordeaux, without a win, but with three draws, currently sit second bottom in the league after having played four games, although they do have either one or two games in hand on many of the teams around them. Les Girondins salvaged a draw at the weekend thanks to a late brace from debutant Andy Carroll, who left Ligue 2 side SC Amiens in order to join the re-build at Bordeaux.

Whilst Bordeaux are at their lowest ebb, there remains an element of ambition at the club. Bruno Irles, former manager of City Group side ESTAC Troyes, joined the club over the summer, and he has grand plans to put the wounded club back on the map, not just in France, but in Europe. 

“I have the ambition to get [the club] back into Ligue 1. Am I thinking about Europe? Well of course. I signed for Bordeaux, not for a club that is destined for a life in the National divisions,” Irles told Eurosport. Right now, however, even returning to Ligue 2, from where they were demoted this summer, seems a long way away. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle