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·20 May 2024
Get French Football News
·20 May 2024
FC Lorient fell just short of pulling off the great escape. Needing to beat already-relegated Clermont Foot on the final day, hope that FC Metz lose against Paris Saint-Germain and that they could overturn a goal difference deficit of eight, it looked an uphill task for Les Merlus.
However, Lorient beat Clermont 5-0, whilst Metz lost 2-0 at home to PSG. It wasn’t enough. Whilst Metz, who will have the chance to fight for their Ligue 1 status in the relegation play-off, Lorient make the drop to Ligue 1 due to their head-to-head record with Metz after the two sides finished level on goal difference.
“To see Lorient in Ligue 2, with the means and the efforts made in these past 18-24 months, is a monumental failure and as president, I take responsibility,” said Loïc Féry after Les Merlus’ relegation was confirmed. Lorient have the eighth-highest budget of all the teams in Ligue 1.
Whilst Féry assumed his responsibility, there is plenty of blame to go around. Le Bris, as manager, has a significant share of responsibility. L’Équipe reports that Féry and Le Bris will meet in the coming hours in order to evaluate the season and there is a possibility that the latter will leave the club, despite being under contract until 2027. The future looks uncertain for Lorient.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle
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