Football Season Guide

Paris FC finished 3rd in the third-tier Championnat National last season before losing in a two-legged promotion play-off to US Orleans. As a result they thought they had missed out on making an immediate return to Ligue 2, in which they finished bottom with just four wins in a one-season sojourn in season 2015-16. However, they were given a lifeline when it emerged that SC Bastia - relegated from Ligue 1 - had failed to meet financial requirements laid out by the DNCG, French football's financial watchdog - and the capital club then came forward to offer an acceptable budget for the second tier. After seemingly endless uncertainty, it was finally confirmed on July 25th, three days before the start of the 2017-18 campaign, that Paris FC would replace the Corsicans in Ligue 2. Suddenly the race was on to be ready to play Clermont at home in their opening fixture. They have already made a host of new signings, while talented midfielder Eden Massouema, signed by Ligue 1 Dijon, heads the list of departures. A number of new recruits may now be made in the next few weeks to build a team that can compete in Ligue 2. Fabien Mercadal, who had a disappointing spell at Tours last season, has been appointed coach to succeed Reginald Ray, who had left for Bastia and now faces an uncertain future.