No winding-up order yet for Pars

No winding-up order yet for Pars

Published Mar. 12, 2013 7:15 a.m. ET

Sochaux's interim president Alain Courdier has played down concerns over the Ligue 1 strugglers' financial situation.

The club, who slipped into the relegation zone after Saturday's 5-1 hammering against Evian, are bankrolled by car giants Peugeot who received news last month of a record 5billion euro (?4.4bn) loss reported by PSA Peugeot Citroen.

But Courdier told the club's official website: "PSA's difficulties do not concern the club because it is financially independent and does not rely on the group's help.

"The difficulties throughout French and European football are perhaps detrimental to sporting performance in the short term but it is an economic necessity.

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"We will continue in this way, while striving to improve our (on-field) results."

Courdier paid tribute to former president Alexandre Lacombe, who stood down last month, but revealed a permanent successor will not be in place until at least the end of April.

"I can only praise Alexandre Lacombe's work," he said. "He put in place a structure with the right people in the right positions. The team have the cards in their hand to succeed.

"The post will be decided by a PSA committee. A shortlist has been drawn up with (club vice-president) Christian Peugeot and (director) Xavier Peugeot and the choice will be endorsed by the group at the highest level.

"In the best case, the new president will be in place in late April or early May."

The Irn-Bru First Division side, who last week established a working party to help them fend off liquidation, confirmed they owed ?129,000 in VAT and PAYE.

A club statement added: "DAFC were in discussions with HMRC as late as Thursday afternoon to come to a solution re the repayment of these outstanding amounts.

"It was only after DAFC called HMRC on Friday afternoon they received confirmation that HMRC had applied for a winding-up order.

"DAFC have yet to be served with the winding-up order."

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