Carroll’s decision to leave Ligue 2 side SC Amiens in order to join Bordeaux certainly raised a few eyebrows.  The former England international joined Amiens from Reading the previous summer. However, despite having featured prominently in Ligue 2 last season, he made the choice to go down into the fourth tier to join Bordeaux, who recently went bankrupt, were forced to revoke their professional status, and as a result were kicked out of Ligue 2, despite securing safety last season. 

He has hit the ground running at Bordeaux, netting a brace in each of his first two matches for his new club, helping them towards their first league win since the demotion. In an interview with RMC Sport, Carroll revealed that it was costing him money to play for Bordeaux, without going into details.

The media evoked a salary of €3,500. “No, it’s a lot less than that,” Carroll told L’Équipe. “I won’t tell you the exact figure but to give you an idea, since I moved here, I rent a pretty little house and my salary is less than my rent. If I joined Bordeaux, it clearly wasn’t for the money. I had offers from elsewhere to play in Saudi Arabia, but that didn’t interest me,” added the former England international. An internal source at Bordeaux told L’Équipe that Carroll’s salary is less than €2,500 per month.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

The French outlet writes that the PSE had become inevitable since the club were relegated from the second tier of French football (Ligue 2) to the fourth tier (National 2) after they were unable to convince the DNCG of their ability to balance their books. 

Most of those impacted by the cutbacks which will see 97 employees made redundant next month had been notified of their dismissal this week albeit without any words from the management. 

‘Bordeaux have a moral and legal duty’ 

This decision was not unexpected, even if it was still shocking for a workforce where some had spent their whole lives at the club. The local MP, Marie Récalde, expressed her regret to France Bleu at the impact this will have: “Behind a club like the Girondins de Bordeaux, there are dozens of people, families, real fans who have given years and years. It is a real tragedy with serious human consequences.”

Récalde who was elected to office in the most recent elections continued her point by calling on Bordeaux’s owner Gérard Lopez to properly enact his social responsibilities to these employees losing their jobs, “They have a moral and legal duty, the PSE must be conducted in a fair and transparent manner […] The compensation must be adequate because we are not here just to thank people, but also to give them perspective and help them bounce back after this ordeal.”

GFFN | Nick Hartland

Despite not being able to watch the game, Bordeaux supporters came to the stadium to cheer on their team as they arrived for the match. The fanbase could be heard throughout the game as they chanted and set off smoke bombs creating an atmosphere that seeped into the 5,000-seater stadium.

After the game, Bordeaux manager Bruno Irles was quick to applaud the fans. The former ESTAC Troyes and RWD Molenbeek manager hailed the significance of the moment stating in his post-match comments, “Coming on a Monday evening at 8:30 p.m. to support us without watching the match, there are few clubs that have this chance.”

Irles continued his comments, “I hope that we will be able to welcome them during the next round and that they will be able to support us on the field.” Bordeaux will find out who they are playing in the next round of the competition on the 17th of October when their region of the country (Nouvelle-Aquitaine) is drawn. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

Carroll joined now-amateur side Bordeaux, currently playing in the fourth division, on a free transfer last month. The club are rebuilding after bankruptcy saw their professional status revoked. Since arriving, he has netted two braces in his first two matches, helping Bordeaux to their first win since the demotion. 

In an interview with RMC Sport, Carroll revealed that he was taking a financial hit in order to play for the club. “To be honest, it’s even costing me money to come and play for Bordeaux but I’m playing football and I am simply happy to be playing football,” said the former England international. 

‘I was just sinking and making bad decisions’ – Carroll

Things haven’t always been this way for Carroll, who throughout his career has been dogged by injury. In an interview with Foot Mercato, the former Newcastle United and Liverpool forward revealed that he particularly struggled at West Ham United. “It was a very difficult period of my life, really,” he began. 

“It was a stressful period for me. I was at the bottom of the hole; everything was dark. It was difficult to get back on my feet. I was just sinking and making bad decisions. It was very hard. You know, as a player, you just want to be on the pitch and playing. But sometimes, you hear stories, people saying ‘Oh he’s always injured’, ‘He should retire’, and unpleasant things like that. At that moment, you’re in the abyss, in your shell and you’re just trying to get out of it because it can be dangerous. Luckily, I managed to get out of it and I had a more positive ending. So now, I just love playing football,” said Carroll.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

The former Liverpool striker shocked many when he completed his move to Les Girondins from Amiens in the summer of 2024. Bordeaux had just been demoted to the 4th tier from Ligue 2 due to financial difficulties. However, the English forward did not see this as a deterrence when deciding upon his next club. In fact, Carroll was enticed by the opportunity to play for the club, “I had the opportunity to do it.  I like the idea of ​​this project to go back to Ligue 1 and it’s something I wanted to do… Of course, it’s also a very big club with a huge fan base, and great facilities and it’s something I want to be a part of.”

The 35-year-old is no stranger to finding the back of the net. Whether it be scoring goals on the international level for England or in FA Cup semi-finals for Liverpool, the former England international has scored on the biggest stages. He has continued this theme after scoring 4 goals in his first two matches for Bordeaux albeit on a much smaller stage in the 4th tier. 

Carroll spoke about the transition from playing week-in-week-out in the Premier League to playing his football in the National 2, “Not at all. It’s just football. No matter what level you play at, it’s still football. And it’s something I want to do. A few years ago, when I was out of contract and didn’t have a club, I used to play every week with my friends. We would play 11-a-side games on Thursday nights. And playing football is something I’m going to continue to do as much as I can.”

GFFN | Liam Wraith

The Coupe de France provided a welcome distraction on Sunday. They faced District 1 side Puymoyen, beating the amateur side comfortably (5-0). However, Bordeaux may now be absent from the fifth-round draw, as Ouest-France explain. The club could be disqualified from the competition after fielding their reserve goalkeeper, Over Mandanda, as an outfield player. 

In reaction to Emeric Depussay’s injury in the 89th minute, Bruno Irles brought on Mandanda, brother of Stade Rennais and former France international Steve Mandanda. However, the way in which he was brought on may have broken the rules. The laws stipulate that a goalkeepers must wear a jersey that distinguishes them from the other outfield players, which Mandanda, playing in an outfield position, did not do. 

Bordeaux, in defence, have argued that Irles sought authorisation from a match official, which was granted. There is now a wait to discover their Coupe de France fate. A decision may come on 4th October. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Bordeaux, without a win, but with three draws, currently sit second bottom in the league after having played four games, although they do have either one or two games in hand on many of the teams around them. Les Girondins salvaged a draw at the weekend thanks to a late brace from debutant Andy Carroll, who left Ligue 2 side SC Amiens in order to join the re-build at Bordeaux.

Whilst Bordeaux are at their lowest ebb, there remains an element of ambition at the club. Bruno Irles, former manager of City Group side ESTAC Troyes, joined the club over the summer, and he has grand plans to put the wounded club back on the map, not just in France, but in Europe. 

“I have the ambition to get [the club] back into Ligue 1. Am I thinking about Europe? Well of course. I signed for Bordeaux, not for a club that is destined for a life in the National divisions,” Irles told Eurosport. Right now, however, even returning to Ligue 2, from where they were demoted this summer, seems a long way away. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

The former England international (9 caps) has taken another surprising step in the twilight of his career by leaving Ligue 2 side Amiens for Bordeaux who were recently relegated from the second tier to the fourth of French football after being plagued by serious financial issues. 

Carroll joined Amiens from Reading FC in the summer of 2023. The striker made 28 appearances during his time in the second division scoring four times. However, his season would come to an end early for Les Licornes after he suffered a knee injury. 

John Williams key to bringing Andy Carroll to Bordeaux? 

Amiens sporting director John Williams has been helping Bordeaux for the past few months build a new squad after the club released all their players on the books from their contracts in July. Williams had been instrumental in bringing Carroll to Amiens last summer. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland

Former England international Carroll (nine caps) joined Amiens from Reading on a free transfer after seeing his contract terminated with the English side. Since joining the Ligue 2 club, he has featured 35 times, scoring four goals, however, he has made just one start for the club this season.

He now looks set to move. The former Liverpool and Newcastle United striker has been convinced by John Williams to join Girondins de Bordeaux, the fallen giant of French football, recently deprived of their professional status and relegated to the National 2, the fourth tier of French football. It was Williams who convinced Carroll to join Amiens and he now looks set to take him to Bordeaux too, as they look to rebuild and climb back up the ladder. 

L’Équipe understands that the former England international is on the verge of completing the move with just one detail to sort before its completion.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

John Williams the current sporting director of Amiens SC will be involved in the Bordeaux reconstruction, although it is not yet known what his official role will be. Williams has reportedly been at work for the last month helping to build a new squad for the club following their administrative relegation to the fourth tier of French football. 

L’Équipe writes that Williams will likely be joined by Bruno Irles who was let go from his position as manager of RWD Molenbeek in March. Irles has some experience helping clubs travel up the French footballing pyramid having played a part in Pau FC and US Quevilly-Rouen Métropole’s rise from amateur football to Ligue 2. 

However, there are thought to be still a few details to be sorted before Irles will be officially named as the new head coach of Bordeaux. 

GFFN | Nick Hartland