The complicated situation ofASSE pushes Roland Romeyer and Bernard Caïazzo to seek investors abroad. The club in great economic difficulty, particularly with the crisis that French football has been experiencing since 2020, needs new funds to get out of it.
Poor management at ASSE
TheAS Saint-Etienne does not suffer only sportingly in Ligue 1. Economically, the club is heading for ruin. The management of the Caiazzo-Romeyer partnership is constantly being called into question. Romeyer in particular has recently been accused of mismanaging the situation at all levels, and in particular this period of transfer window. The two men are particularly singled out for the bonuses they have received over the years. With the club on the verge of bankruptcy, during the ASSE Group general meeting in September, the two shareholders were awarded € 600,000 by management. A sum that is added to others, bringing the total to 4 million euros since 2013. Dividends disproportionate to the club’s income. The information that filtered through the press provoked the anger and frustration of Saint-Etienne supporters.
Selling ASSE, a solution?
French football seems to attract foreign investors, who see a place to take. While these same funds are very present in other championships, France has relatively remained “behind”. Soft-power tool or investment opportunity, or even both, it is often a solution for clubs in great financial difficulty. Bernard Caiazzo, evokes the arrival of a new investor for a very long time, without the question no longer moving forward. This summer, the president admitted to having contacts in this direction. However, he had underlined a certain problem of attractiveness, in an interview with the newspaper Progress : “For those who know football, Saint-Étienne is a great capital. But for those who do not know it, to choose between Bordeaux, Nice and Saint-Étienne, it is sure that the Riviera or the Bordeaux wines present more Our priority is to talk to people who know football, “he said. Before also talking about the structural specificities ofAS Saint-Etienne.
According to media information 10 Sport, a Chinese investor based in Europe would be interested in ASSE. However, this would be a buyout and not a new shareholder structure. The information should be taken with a grain of salt, however. Caiazzo had previously claimed he wanted to retain stakes in the club, and there would be no indication yet of a change in position on his side.
By Hind