FC Lorient fans mobilise against Bill Foley ownership | OneFootball

FC Lorient’s ultra group Merlus Ultras 1995 have published an open letter to their club president Loïc Féry, denouncing the minority ownership held by AFC Bournemouth owner Bill Foley. The letter came in the context of fears surrounding the potential cherry-picking of two players in Dango Ouattara (20) and Enzo Le Fée (22) in recent day which have compounded already-present worries on the multi-club ownership model being implemented at the Breton side.

The statement by supporters expresses clearly “deep concern” by the minority ownership of Bill Foley in the club, saying that “FC Lorient has been boasting for years of being a family club, with a strong identity and its own philosophy of play. So why introduce an American into its capital who knows nothing of our history?”

In their second argument, they cite the failure of American investment in French football clubs, and argue that Lorient was a second choice destination for Mr Foley, “since he did not succeed in acquiring part of Olympique Lyonnais,” questioning further the intentions of American MCO ownership in French Football with “How can we interpret these signs? How can we have confidence in Foley’s arrival when we have in mind the examples of foreign investments – and in particular American – which have plunged some French football clubs into chaos (Bordeaux, Le Havre, Troyes…)?”

The statement then deals with the recent news of the emerging move of young striker Dango Ouattara to AFC Bournemouth, which is considered the parent club in the eyes of Foley. “It is out of the question that we become a vulgar satellite club, a simple training centre for the English parent company. The probable departure of Dango Ouattara to Bournemouth only reinforces our fear.”

The supporters’ group say they will follow this statement up with concrete action against Foley.

Several days ago it was reported that Bournemouth were planning a double swoop for the promising Ligue 1 pair Ouattara, and Le Fée. Whilst the former is close to completing €27m move to the south coast, the latter did not appreciate attempts made by certain stakeholders to attempt to move him in the direction of the Premier League, according to sources contacted by Get French Football News.

Foley, who only recently purchased Bournemouth, acquired a 33% share of the Lorient. The move was announced last Friday, and it has gone some way to facilitate the transfer of Ouattara to Bournemouth, who was of interest to several other Premier League sides. The American MCO model is now a common sight in French football, and is present at several clubs across the French football pyramid such as Lyon, Le Havre, Troyes, in the top two leagues as well as Red Star FC and Nancy at the semi-professional level.