By judgment of Monday September 30, 2024, the judicial court of Cherbourg (Manche) declared the opening of a judicial recovery procedure with regard to the USLG Cherbourg, whose pennant team plays in the Women’s Nationale 1, and set the date for cessation of payments to February 27, 2024. A massive blow for the Cotentin club, but not really a surprise for Sylvain Jean, its president, who has been facing economic difficulties for several years. It was he who requested this legal outcome. The debt is around €100,000.
Covid-19, nightmare season, operating costs…
In September 2023, Sylvain Jean put forward a deficit of “several tens of thousands of euros”. Losses linked to Covid-19, unreasonable payroll during a sportingly catastrophic 2021-2022 season with relegation from LF2 to N1F, high operating costs… One year later, and despite numerous efforts and the perpetual quest for additional partners, the USLG, whose total budget is €580,000 for the 2024-2025 season, is unable to plug a hole of around €100,000.
This debt is now frozen for eighteen months, with an accounting review carried out every six months. The club is placed under supervision, with audited accounts, and its image, it must be admitted, takes a hit.
An upgrade to LF2 could be refused
To get your head above water, you will have to fight outside and on the sporting field: who says good results, says interest from new financiers. But a sword of Damocles already hangs over the USLG: in the event of a rise to LF2 at the end of this 2024-2025 season, it could be refused if the debt is not paid off by then . A meeting between the club and the municipality of Cherbourg, at odds since Sylvain Jean’s announcement to withdraw from the Chantereyne project, is planned soon.
More information to come.
