Park Bench drops bid to buy Bordeaux

American investor Park Bench, together with Sparta Capital, says it will not proceed with its planned takeover of Girondins de Bordeaux. The move comes after the club was confirmed to be excluded from all national competitions, which Park Bench had made a condition for its offer.

In a statement cited by RMC Sport, the fund said its proposal was linked to Bordeaux taking part in national championships. According to Park Bench, it would be “extraordinarily difficult” for any owner to run the club in Régional 1 while dealing with the existing debt and fully meeting the obligations in the restructuring plan.

Deal hinged on national status

Park Bench also detailed the timeline of the process. It claims it was first approached on 27 July and, four days later on 31 July, set aside €10.6m in escrow, with €10m more available to support the club during the upcoming season. Even so, once the exclusion was confirmed, the fund concluded it could not continue with the contemplated transaction.

Club reacts; FFF decision holds

RMC Sport reports that the FFF’s executive committee met on Thursday to decide Bordeaux’s fate and whether it could be integrated into National 2 (former N3). The Comex ultimately kept the club in Régional 1, and the file involving Park Bench and other potential backers could not be re-examined to avoid setting a precedent.

Bordeaux responded by saying it was “outraged” and argued that no legal decision had been made, adding that arguments around solvency and a season financed through funds placed and escrowed were not examined. The club also referred to a delay in producing funds of ten days, which it says has now been fixed, and noted remarks from sports minister Marina Ferrari criticizing the federation’s stance.