Both the airports and ports of the island are being impacted by the ongoing strikes which began on the 3rd of October. According to Corsica-Matin, industrial action began on the 3rd of October due to fears over the management of Corsica’s ports and airports. 

Members of The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Ajaccio and Bastia (CGI) are currently striking because their management of the ports and airports is under threat due to European regulations requiring that the contract renewing their control goes through a call for tenders. 

This means that there is no guarantee that the CGI can maintain management of the airports and ports and the contract could be provided to a continental French or foreign group, like what has happened to other airports and ports in mainland France. The CGI reportedly has 1200 members and they fear for their job security if management of this sector is provided to another organisation. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

The DNCG, French football’s financial watchdog, had originally provided Ajaccio with this sanction late last month after they had been left unsatisfied with the club’s presentation of their budget for the 2024/25 season. However, Ajaccio had responded at the time via a press release that they believed they had ensured their budget would allow them to run at a professional level for the 2024/25 season.

In a hearing held today, the club were interviewed by the DNCG and met the watchdog’s expectations, meaning they will be ensured of their place in next season’s competition.

Bordeaux appeal relegation to Championnat National

The fate of FC Girondins de Bordeaux remains unknown with the Ligue 2 side also in the process of appealing the DNCG’s decision to relegate the historic club. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

Ajaccio were in Ligue 1 just two seasons ago but they could find themselves in the third tier by the start of next season. The DNCG were unsatisfied with the budget presented to them during Thursday’s hearing, although the Corsican club, in a press release, have ensured that their 2024/25 budget does allow it to run at a professional level. 

Bordeaux safe… for now

Ajaccio have already announced that, just like Châteauroux and Niort, they will appeal to provisional demotion in the hope of competing in Ligue 2 next season. Should they fail in their appeal, City Group club ESTAC Troyes, who have suffered back-to-back relegations, will be given a lifeline and will return to France’s second division, rather than dropping down to the National 1. 

The jury is still out on Girondins de Bordeaux. The Ligue 2 club have a shortfall to make up, however, in their meeting with the DNCG, their case was deferred in order for talks with American investors to conclude. Those talks are reportedly now at an advanced stage. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

In his opening months in charge, Le Bris impressed, keeping Lorient in the top-half of the table. However, following the departures of Terem Moffi and Dango Ouattara mid-season, there was a considerable drop-off. That decline continued last season and despite almost lodging a great escape, Lorient’s relegation to France’s second tier was confirmed. 

Two managers are in contention to replace Le Bris: Olivier Pantaloni and Jocelyn Gourvennec. The former is currently the manager of Ligue 2 side AC Ajaccio, whilst the latter is unattached following his departure from FC Nantes late in the season. L’Équipe understands that Pantaloni, who has been Ajaccio manager since 2014, is the priority target. 

Gourvennec is the first-choice back-up, whilst Bruno Irles and Stéphan Le Mignan are also potential options. A decision is expected to be taken this weekend. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

The defender joined Ajaccio last summer from New York City FC. At the MLS side, the Luxembourger became the longest-serving player in the club’s history and in 2021 he was able to win the MLS Cup. 

Despite becoming an icon in New York, the chance to play in Corsica where the Luxembourg international had grown up was too big of an opportunity to pass up. As he explained in his departing statement, “I left home when I was 14, it’s been almost 20 years, and I was presented with the opportunity to play in front of my family, which I have never done.” 

The homecoming was shortlived regardless of the defender becoming an integral part of the side as they drifted around the middle of the table. According to the club, after the winter transfer window, Chanot requested the termination of his contract citing a family emergency. 

Chanot’s request initially refused by Ajaccio

To which the club states that it “Categorically refused the departure of its centre-back due to the imposed timing. Following this refusal and in the face of individual performances that followed, both on the field, in training and around the club, Maxime was no longer 100% committed to the club.” 

The statement continues, “Maxime contacted management on numerous occasions, first by proposing an increase in his contract and ultimately turning around and leaving regardless of the consequences. Maxime Chanot in his last interview, expressed his difficult choice: to stop his career so as to not abandon his family or to be released from his contract.” 

Ajaccio expressed their disappointment, “Faced with this behaviour and this situation, the sports management and the club decided to part ways with the player because his presence would have been negative or even counterproductive for the group.” And concluded, “Ajaccio cannot imagine keeping a player who does not honour his commitments and who cannot give 100% to defending its colours.” 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

The former Ajaccio forward had only joined the Qatari club in the summer from FC Nantes but after his family failed to settle into their new environment, the forward believed it was time for a premature exit. 

Delort was able to come to an agreement with Umm Salal this week which will allow him to end his contract early. However, due to the timing after the transfer window has closed, the Algerian international will be unable to find a new club until the summer. 

Until then Delort will train with Ajaccio as he hopes to keep his body and his mind prepared for a thirteenth club in a now storied career. This will be especially important for the player after he suffered a worrying injury during the Qatar Stars Cup final for his old club. 

Delort suddenly became unwell and was stretchered off the pitch. Thankfully, a medical investigation revealed that it was nothing to be overly concerned about, being the result of an epileptic fit brought on about by an acute episode of stress and a severe flu. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

There were frightening scenes in January when Delort collapsed during the Qatar Stars Cup final against Al-Arabi. The club captain was carried off the pitch on a stretcher shortly after scoring. The medical team checked the player and he was well enough to return to the sidelines before lifting the trophy for his side at the final whistle. 

According to L’Équipe, he then flew to Corsica where he underwent an ECG which returned reassuring results. A series of tests followed in Doha which came to the conclusion that Delort had suffered an epileptic fit brought on by fatigue from stress and a severe flu. Despite suffering from this episode, his decision to leave Umm Salal was completely unrelated to it. 

https://twitter.com/ummsalalsc/status/1757054742897758615?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1757054742897758615%7Ctwgr%5E6861bff63b1cf701418925acf3d2c88f5d5c74ed%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lequipe.fr%2FFootball%2FArticle%2FApres-avoir-mis-un-terme-a-son-aventure-au-qatar-andy-delort-veut-retrouver-la-l1-la-saison-prochaine%2F1448491

Father of two young children, Delort was concerned that his family were struggling to adapt to their life in Doha since he joined the club last summer. He was particularly worried that his 11-year-old son was deeply unhappy and so began the process of terminating his contract. 

Delort found an agreement with Umm Salal that allowed for him to leave Qatar and move his family back to Ajaccio, where the striker has kept a house since 2013. However, he has no intention of ending his career and hopes that the summer will represent an opportunity for him to return to a French team, preferably in Ligue 1. 

Unable to find a club until then due to the nature of his termination. Delort will seek authorisation to train with AC Ajaccio in an attempt to not only maintain his physical health but recover mentally from a deeply concerning period. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

Ecology and environmentalism have become increasingly prevalent in discussions about how football teams travel to and from matches, especially in France. Former Paris Saint-Germain manager Christophe Galtier came in for considerable criticism last season when he joked that the team would take a sand yacht, rather than a private jet to their away matches. It came in the wake of PSG’s decision to take a jet, rather than a two-hour train, to face FC Nantes. 

Bastia are now coming in for criticism over their mode of transport. The Ligue 2 have already travelled to Corsican rivals Ajaccio ahead of Monday night’s match. Instead of taking the bus, which would take just two hours, Bastia have hired a private jet from Nice, to allow them to then make the 15-minute flight to Ajaccio. As well as the environmental cost of the decision, the economic cost has also been called into question. Bastia have one of the lowest budgets in Ligue 2, and this journey alone will cost them €15,000. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Scène ubuesque à Ajaccio lors de Ajaccio-Bordeaux, où des supporters ajacciens et bordelais se battent dans la tribune avec des échelles, des chaises.. Catastrophique !! #ACAFCGB pic.twitter.com/zoQq3E0F6J

— Stadiumito (@stadiumito) August 21, 2023

Security services managed to remove the visiting supporters from the stadium. The game eventually resumed after a near 40-minute suspension. Girondins de Bordeaux released a statement in which they expressed their clear condemnation of the non-compliance by a small group of supporters with the prefectoral decree. The Ligue 2 club also condemns the violent scenes of fan unrest which followed. “The club trusts the authorities to take the appropriate actions.” Les Girondins have already been hit by a 1-point deduction for this league campaign after a member of the Ultramarines shoved a Rodez player to the ground during the previous campaign’s final game.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval

It is a busy summer for Toulouse FC. The Garonne club has decided to overhaul his coaching department with the dismissal of Montanier. Besides, the 2023 Coupe de France winners are in talks with UEFA regarding their participation in the Europa League next season. The club’s owners, RedBird Capital Partners, are the majority shareholder of AC Milan. UEFA rules state that two clubs owned by the same entity cannot be guaranteed an entry in this particular combination of continental competitions, even if Toulouse are due to play the Europa League and Milan the Champions League.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval