Montauban facing €1.3m debt probe

MONTAUBAN, who came so close to upsetting Munster in last Friday’s Heineken Cup opener, face investigation by French rugby authorities, as they are €1.3 million short of balancing their books after last season, despite declaring otherwise to the French rugby authorities.

According to French media reports, Montauban officials will meet with representatives of the French Top 14 tomorrow to try to explain the massive financial hole revealed in an audit carried out by club president, Daniel Havis.

Faced with an investigation by the DNACG (Direction nationale d’aide de contrôle et de gestion), the French rugby authority’s financial watchdog — and the body responsible for demoting Albi for similar reasons at the end of last season — Montauban’s president will have to convince the visiting accountants that the club can resolve the situation.

One key question that must be answered will be how Montauban were able to declare that they were €300,000 in the black in June.

It has been reported that the €896,000 transferred to the Montauban municipality by the Regional Administration for the refurbishment of the Patrick Bardot grandstand at Sapiac Stadium is still in the Town Hall’s bank account. Montauban have already received the maximum amount of money allowed for by law for this kind of operation.

Furthermore, the club paid more than €300,000 in bonuses to players and coaches as reward for their qualification for the Heineken Cup, and Montauban also had to buy out the contracts of top players Pablo Lemoine and Sébastien Fauqué.

Montauban have until tomorrow to submit their final financial statements to the DNACG, who have a reputation for being uncompromising when it comes to murky finances. “The hour has come to roll up our sleeves and for the club, the Town Council and the region to work hand in hand. I’m convinced a solution can be found,” said Havis.