'We thought he understood' - John Textor was 'warned' about dire Lyon situation before he bought club as DNCG chief reveals details behind relegation saga

Textor was repeatedly warned by the National Directorate of Management Control (DNCG) about the urgent need for substantial financial injections upon his acquisition of the club, according to Jean-Marc Mickeler, the financial body's president. Mickeler stated that Textor failed to provide adequate guarantees to cover the €240 million shortfall identified by the financial watchdog. Despite frequent communication and clear requests for evidence of new funding, Textor's proposals proved insufficient, leading to Lyon’s provisional demotion to Ligue 2, but he now intends to buy a UK club. The appeals committee ultimately preserved OL’s status in Ligue 1, but only after Michele Kang replaced Textor and presented concrete financial solutions.

Lyon narrowly avoided administrative catastrophe after one of the most turbulent ends to a season in the club’s modern era. The DNCG raised alarm over major budget discrepancies and the lack of tangible financial guarantees, prompting a temporary demotion that served as a wake-up call for both OL executives and shareholders. The entrance of Kang, supported by new management, was central to restoring the club’s credibility and security in the top flight. The DNCG highlighted that while Lyon survived, the crisis exposed the growing financial instability in French football, with total professional losses exceeding €1.3 billion last season.

Mickeler discussed the organisation's findings, telling L'Equipe: "John Textor is the president with whom we have had the most dialogue. We have been very informative. We warned him upon his acquisition of the need to inject a lot of money in the coming years. We thought he understood."

He added: "We realised in December that there were significant discrepancies between what was presented to us in June and their revised budget from the fall. We downgraded Lyon as a precautionary measure, with very clear information on what was essential for the club's survival."

With Kang at the helm, Lyon will remain in Ligue 1 for the 2025-26 season. The club opens the campaign with a demanding trip to Lens. Despite avoiding relegation, OL must comply strictly with new financial constraints to satisfy ongoing DNCG scrutiny. Player sales and prudent spending are expected as part of the club’s restructuring, while supporters and management hope for less drama in Kang’s first season in charge.