France: "The requirements for RC Lens to play (in Ligue 2) in 2015-16 are €15m" (Gervais Martel)

"The cash requirements to play next season (2015-16) in Ligue 2 are €15m. This is what I will present to the DNCG (in charge of sports licensing in France). And I will bring the money through my holding company, GIM2. This is the world (of the club) upside down, but I'll replace Hafiz Mammadov, who cannot meet his responsibilities," stated Gervais Martel, the president of RC Lens (Ligue 1), on 13/05/2015.

The 99% shareholder of the club, Hafiz Mammadov has been in financial difficulties in Azerbaijan since the summer of 2014, and has not paid the €14m that he was to invest in the club in January 2015. RC Lens, in 20^th and last place in Ligue 1 (26 points) after 37 matchdays, are now officially relegated, sporting-wise, to Ligue 2 for 2015-16. "I will mention that I have found the money. I found some people (investors) who know me, who appreciate RC Lens and are aware that it is an extraordinary club," Gervais Martel said to the weekly France Football, stating that RC Lens should meet with the DNCG regarding a 2015-16 license for Ligue 2 "on 26/05/2015".

"I have to prove that I have…