In a statement issued Tuesday night, the holding group that oversees Ligue 1 side Lyon, the OL Group, released its financial results for the previous year, according to the AFP. For the fifth consecutive year, "the results are negative," with a €26.4M ($33.7M) loss last year. Over the past five years, the losses "have accumulated to €137M ($174.7M)." The group "still continued its policy of drastically reducing personnel costs" with €24.4M ($31.1M) saved over two years. Sales revenue fell for the seventh consecutive year (-12%), for a total of €120.5 ($153.6M). In an effort to explain these results, the club "pointed out that the team's on-the-field results were not as great as previous seasons and that they did not sell all the players they expected to" (AFP, 10/15). BUT! FOOTBALL CLUB's Alexandre Corboz reported that on a conference call Wednesday afternoon, Lyon President Jean-Michel Aulas "discussed the economic situation of his club." Aulas said, "The results are not in line with what we wanted." Although Lyon's '14-15 financial year is "already predicting a shortfall of €5M ($6.4M) directly tied to the team's first absence from the Euro Cup in 17 years," Aulas announced the need for a strategic shift by the Board of Directors, "with a focus on a quick return to the Champions League." Aulas said, "We spoke yesterday. The main concern is what Hubert Fournier needs and more importantly what not to take from him in order to get back to winning." He did not exclude putting aside his plan to divest players. Aulas: "In any event, one begins to wonder about the failures and if it is appropriate to transfer players in the middle of the year. If we leave with a view of doing less player moves, we must analyze additional resources." Aulas also confirmed an organizational change within the club, with the creation of a "Sports and Sport Ambassadors Committee" (BUT! FOOTBALL CLUB, 10/15).
