By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Elan Bearnais Pau-Lacq-Orthez exits the French Betclic Elite (Pro A) due to financial hardships, and at the same time, they are ineligible to play in the second division (Pro B) due to a lack of financial evidence supporting their participation.
As reported by L’Equipe, the club appealed to the National Management Control Department (DNCCG), and received confirmation Monday that the department’s first decision of demotion still stands. Elan Bearnais is allowed to submit two more appeals and remains in contact with the French Basketball Federation.
The club, directed by American company Counterpointe Sports Group, ran up an estimated deficit of two to three million euros on a 7.8 million euros projected budget last season, with delays in payment and the subsequent departure of GM Tom Huston this past May.
Unless the DNCCG’s decision is averted, the nine-time French League champion will compete in the third division of France in the 2022-23 season.