Jean-Michel Aulas confirms he won’t make Lyon return amid financial crisis | OneFootball

Olympique Lyonnais find themselves in a difficult position. Last week, the DNCG, French football’s financial watchdog, took the decision to provisionally relegate the club to Ligue 2, amid mounting debt.  Such an outcome was expected considering that the Ligue 1 club’s debt reportedly rose from €458 million to €508 million.

It means that, in order to avoid a drop to France’s second tier at the end of the season, there will be a need to raise a significant sum in player sales, whilst OL have also been banned from recruiting this January. Players such as Rayan Cherki and Malick Fofana are already being linked with moves away from the Groupama Stadium.

Amid this crisis, former president Jean-Michel Aulas, who departed shortly after John Textor’s arrival as owner, had remained quiet. However, OL’s former president (1987-2023) has now reacted to the DNCG’s sanctions against Les Gones, denying a return to the club amid speculation to that effect.

“OL, with its supporters, is a marvellous club, amongst the best for its academy, its women’s [side] as much as its men’s [side]. It is up to the new team to write a new chapter in the club’s history. I will devote myself to the development of women’s football, and to the FFF,” said Aulas in a post on X (formerly Twitter). There is no question, therefore, of him making a return.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle