Posted on January 4, 2022 at 12:30 pm by Arthur Montagne While the sale process for ASSE was launched on April 14, everything seems to have stopped today, to the point that Bernard Lions has serious doubts about the outcome of this soap opera. Since April 14, rumors surrounding the sale of ASSE have multiplied. And for good reason, Bernard Caïazzo and Roland Romeyer have shown their willingness to sell their share if possible before December 31. A first failure since the two shareholders did not succeed in selling the club before the end of 2021 after having notably rejected the offers of Olivier Markarian and Jean-Michel Roussier . However, since November 23, everything has been relaunched since by means of a press release, the shareholders assure that they are “happy to note that new candidates presented themselves with files which meet the criteria requested by KPMG and are waiting with calm the recommendations of the audit firm regarding these candidates whose financial capacity is indisputable with a desire to conclude as soon as possible. “But Bernard Lions draws a damning report of the situation and fears the worst for the future of ASSE always the red lantern of Ligue 1, which does not facilitate the sale of the club … Guest of the Sainté Inside Show show on Twitch, the journalist from L'Equipe does not hide his concern: “It's stalled for the simple reason that if you're a seller, it's anything but the right time to sell. And if you're a buyer, now is anything but a good time to buy. The decisive maintenance for the sale? It's not just Ligue1 or Ligue 2. I think that at one point people are not fully aware of the situation. It is a club which is in danger of death. The game is very simple, we wanted to calm the supporters by putting the club on sale on April 14. Look at what happened in Bordeaux. King Street set up a file and created a Data Room with accounting and legal files. As a result, the sale was settled in three months. Because they really wanted to sell. In Saint-Etienne we took out this kind of scarecrow to calm the supporters and in the end, it only did one thing, to annoy everyone ”. Bernard Lions also explains his concerns by his doubts about the project led by Roman Dubov , president of the company Total Sport Investments which already owns several clubs around the world, supported by the Russian billionaire Sergeï Lomakin , 986th world fortune according to the American magazine Forbes. “My question is between wanting and being able. Already, do they really want to buy? And can they really buy? I had a lot of discussion with the Russians. They have indeed created a network like the City Group or Red Bull, but they are minor clubs and it is not very structured. Do they have the skills and know-how to manage a club the size of ASSE? I am not sure. The capital that appeared with Lomakin as a backdrop is indeed a lot of money, now would that come under the control of Tracfin, the French financial policeman? I am not sure. You look on Wikipedia for the list of coaches and sports directors passed by Pafos, it waltzes in an incredible way. I am not sure that they have a lot of competence and as for the substance, I ask myself questions … “, explains the journalist of L'Equipe before adding that” the Americans will wait until the beast is on the ground to finish it off and cut it up and buy back the crumbs. “ Bernard Lions refers here to the projects of the American investment funds Terrapin Partners and 777 Partners , which however seem to be in decline today. This is good since the journalist explains that the project in which he believes the most is that of Olivier Markarian and Serge Bueno . “Rather than Russian or American dreams, I prefer a local project because at least you know where the money comes from. You know there aren't that many, but there are. You know there is a little skill. I therefore prefer the Markarian project, whose skills and attachment to the club are known. He may not put in € 100M, but do you need as much to buy Benedetto or Mitroglou as OM did or to get Modest? It is not a question of money, but of traceability of the money and of will, ”he concludes. It remains to be seen how this issue will develop while the sporting situation of ASSE remains very worrying. 
“People are not fully aware of the situation”
“I'm not sure they have a lot of skills”
Mercato | Mercato – ASSE: A disaster is preparing for the sale of the club!
