In the midst of a fight to stay in the league, a Ligue 2 club is about to experience a decisive week. Internal changes and sporting uncertainties are causing shifts behind the scenes, with a president who is no longer ruling out a major evolution.
The situation is heavy. Sportingly, the club remains fragile with a relegation play-off spot and constant pressure as the end of the season approaches. Internally, the recent departure of the sporting director signifies a rupture. And in the background, a question persists: the future of the club and its governance. This club is Amiens SC!
In fact, it is an understatement to say that the week ahead looks eventful for the Picard club, as they travel to Rodez to face Bastia behind closed doors, a crucial match in the relegation battle. This match will also be the first without John Williams, the former sporting director who has joined Servette FC in Switzerland. This departure marks an important step for ASC, which now needs to find a successor to lead its sports policy. Bernard Joannin, president since 2009, remains discreet about the potential options but emphasizes the need to anticipate the club’s future. The final opponent of the season Saint-Etienne is already looking ahead to the future!
A historic presidency and a possible sale
Bernard Joannin is approaching his 17th year at the helm of Amiens SC. At 76 years old, he is considering the club’s transition, preferring a local takeover to preserve the identity of Amiens. He recalls, in Le Courrier Picard, turning down a €60 million offer during the Ligue 1 period to ensure that future investors are connected to the city.
This latter offer actually came from John Williams, backed by Anglo-Saxon investors. “When we were in Ligue 1, while I was on vacation in Italy, I was offered €60 million to buy the club and I refused in exactly two minutes. […] I am in favor of local investors representing the city, not people who come in and change everything.”
Persistent financial and sporting questions for Amiens
Today, he acknowledges that the question of a sale is more relevant than ever. “I don’t know when, and that’s why I have to plan for the future and I do. If these things have to happen, they will, but in a way that the supporters and lovers of the club benefit from it. In any case, money has never been my motivator and I think I have proven that,” he explains. However, he emphasizes a central criterion: supporters and lovers of the club must benefit from it.
Beyond the transition, several questions remain. The club faces a structural deficit filled by transfers or Joannin’s personal contribution. The TV rights for Ligue 2 next season will be very low, limited to €700,000, complicating the club’s financial future. Sportingly, ASC is currently in a relegation play-off position and could potentially be demoted to the National league.
