Everything was due to be signed, sealed and delivered yesterday, barring unforeseen circumstances. Unfortunately, there have been plenty of those involving the Basque club in recent seasons.
Regional newspaper Sud Ouest reported white smoke on a sale agreement earlier this month, following lengthy and not entirely straightforward negotiations between club owner Louis-Vincent Gave, his president Jean-Baptiste Aldigé, and businessman Romain Détré.
The sale of the club has been far from a smooth process. Détré tabled an offer of €3million in April which, according to reports at the time, was pointedly ignored for being too low.
With crucial deadlines approaching – there’s the small matter of the new season, which kicks off in mid-August – a deal for a reported €3.5million has been agreed and just needed the right signatures in the right places.
By now, you’ve probably figured out those unforeseen circumstances kicked in. As of Friday, according to reports, contracts remained unsigned, monies not transferred, the deal not done.
Aldigé was supposed to stand down as Biarritz president on Monday. He didn’t, and that left little time to approve the sale ahead of the crucial July 1 cut-off point (aka yesterday), when everything had to be completed for league purposes.
It’s not just Biarritz who are affected by the possible late collapse of the deal. The planned sale had implications elsewhere. Aldigé was supposed to become new president at Agen, bringing with him a decent-sized initial chequebook and some big ambitions – even, reports suggested, a couple of players from the Basque Country club.
Esta historia es de la edición July 02, 2023 de The Rugby Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición July 02, 2023 de The Rugby Paper.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
England can find a little bit of cheer
SO HERE we are on the final day of England’s autumn international series with all of us hoping and expecting Steve Borthwick’s team to win today after three weeks of bitter disappointment.
Stop messing with Marcus - Campese
DAVID Campese believes England are going backwards under Steve Borthwick, who is ‘messing around’ with talisman Marcus Smith.
Being a Lion was the highlight of my career
I PLAYED 19 games and scored 219 points for the Lions, on the tours to South Africa in 1968 and New Zealand in 1971, but I never played in a Test and that was fair enough.
Cook's crew not fazed as they eye tilt at top half
THERE appear to be few signs of second season syndrome at Westcombe Park as captain Nick Cook reveals the group aren’t even contemplating the threat of relegation and are instead targeting a top-half finish.
Forwards pack a punch for the Reds
OLD Redcliffians produced a proud defensive effort to take a bonus-point win.
Tom 'Ailes' the achievements of inspirational skipper Riley
SEDGLEY Park No. 8 Tom Ailes says his team relish the competitive nature of National One and is confident the Tigers can rectify their rocky start to the season in weeks to come.
Strachan confident Ampthill will be firing again soon
FRASER Strachan is determined to put Ampthill’s leaky defensive showings behind them and gain some much needed confidence in the run up to Christmas.
It's a whole new ball game for Rigg
WILL Rigg’s ambition was to become a professional cricketer but it is the oval ball rather than The Oval that is his driver now.
Scarratt leads the way for Lightning
LOUGHBOROUGH won a wet and windy East Midlands Derby after having the bonus point in the bag by half-time.
Becconsall: We need to release pressure
WILL Becconsall says Exeter are not spooked by the threat of relegation as they look to turn around their Premiership campaign after starting with six straight defeats.
