Fenway Sports Group (FSG), owners of Liverpool, have decided to withdraw from negotiations to acquire Bordeaux, the struggling French club.
Bordeaux disclosed that FSG cited concerns over future stadium maintenance costs and the overall financial stability of French football as reasons for their decision.
Last week, FSG had acknowledged being in preliminary discussions regarding a potential acquisition of Bordeaux, a club with six French championship titles.
Currently, Bordeaux faces provisional relegation to the third-tier National 1 league by the DNCG, France’s financial oversight body for football, due to their inability to provide financial guarantees for the upcoming 2024-25 season. The club is appealing this decision.
“FC Girondins de Bordeaux and its shareholder have been informed by Fenway Sports Group of its intention not to pursue the discussions initiated in recent weeks with a view to buying the club,” a statement read.
“This decision is explained in particular by the significant cost of the stadium in the years to come, but also by the general economic context of French football.”
Bordeaux received an initial reprieve from the DNCG on 27 June.
An FSG statement added: “Although we are disappointed not to have found a viable outcome, we wish the club and its supporters well for the future.”
Earlier this year, FSG appointed Michael Edwards as their chief executive of football, with plans that included identifying and overseeing management of a second club.