In this age of modern football the summer months are usually filled with rumour and counter-rumour regarding the movements of footballers all over Europe. One story cut through that late on Thursday night and it should push all transfer stories aside and gain the attention of football fans around the world.
The historic French club AS Cannes are on the verge of bankruptcy, and look set to disappear from the French leagues all-together. In a time where AS Monaco are owned by a Russian billionaire, Falcao moves club for €60 million and PSG are offering Cristiano Ronaldo €18 million a year to move to the capital, surely the €1.2 million needed to save the club that produced Zinedine Zidane – one of the greatest players to grace a football pitch – can’t be that hard to find.
A similar situation happened recently with Spanish side Real Ovideo and due to a fantastic campaign the club was saved and hopefully has a long future ahead. It would be a disaster if Cannes were allowed to slip away without a fight, so the team here at French Football Weekly, spearheaded by Andrew and Jon, are putting on our gloves and we’re coming out swinging.
The initial plan is to raise awareness around the football world regarding AS Cannes’ position. We are in the process of contacting the club and letting them know that the campaign has begun, as they need to know the support is out there and people are willing to help. Then hopefully we can work together with various parties to save this once-great club.
This season Cannes finished second in their CFA group, just missing out on promotion to the third division National, a move that could have seen this situation avoided, but now they need our help. Set up back in 1902 Cannes were one of the founding members of the French league and finished runners-up in the opening season, then went on to lift the Coupe de France in the same year beating RC Roubaix 1-0 in the final.
In more recent times the club has become more famous for the players it has developed. The team in the early 1990s featured such French international greats as Luis Fernandez and the legendary Zinedine Zidane, and in 1995 the youth side featuring Patrick Vieira won the coveted Coupe Gambardella.
Their greatest strength, the development of young talent, became their downfall – the sale of so many players weakened the team and in 1998 they were relegated to Division 2; three seasons later, to National. In the following years, they lost their professional status, and had to close their academy. In July 2011, they were relegated to the CFA by the DNCG (the regulatory body for French clubs), for financial reasons, a move described by Deputy Director Xavier Nielsen as “unjust”, and the reasons for which persist in the current situation. Worryingly, as well as the €1.2 million liability to cover, there is also the question of the team – all of whom played the current season on one-year contracts. Further investment would be needed to retain and rebuild the squad. The Council provided financial assistance last season, and is reportedly organising the search for a buyer. Declaring bankruptcy (“depot de bilan”) would mean the winding up of the club, and starting again from the DHR, replacing their reserve team. The key date is 18th June, and their hearing before the DNCG.
The club has been graced with players whose names will be familiar to fans across the world: Gael Clichy, Sebastien Frey, Johan Micoud, Jan Koller, Alen Boksic and Aljosa Asanovic to name but a few. It is inconceivable that this could be the last season that AS Cannes plays in the French league. We can’t allow this to happen.
Please spread the word and let the world know of your support for AS Cannes, and let’s #SaveASCannes – follow the twitter account @SaveASCannes and help show your support for this historic club.