Metropolitans face uncertain LNB future after Wembanyama's exit / News - Basketnews.com

Despite a provisional budget validated by the French league, Metropolitans 92 are still looking for partners, investors or sponsors to be able to participate in the next campaign.

Credit: Jean-Christophe Verhaegen/AFP - Scanpix Credit Jean-Christophe Verhaegen/AFP - Scanpix

On June 15, the Metropolitans 92 lost the French LNB title to AS Monaco at a Roland-Garros arena packed with 15,000 supporters. That was also Victor Wembanyama's last game with the Mets, before the prospect took his talents overseas.

A recent report by Le Parisien shows that the Metropolitans of Boulogne-Levallois are looking for €2 million to complete their budget and that the threat of relegation is clear and present.

Victor Wembanyama, coach Vincent Collet, and the Director of Sports Operations Alain Weisz are no longer there and only Lahaou Konate has a contract for next season. The problem is that since the DNCG (The National Directorate of Management Control, which is the organization responsible for monitoring and overseeing the accounts of professional clubs in France) has validated a projected budget of €6 million, the club is having a hard time making it happen.

Despite the fact that Wemby's presence allowed the Mets to record several sold-outs and merchandise sales of 8,000 -10,000 jerseys, the required sum hasn't been found.

"Sport is becoming more and more expensive. The city of Boulogne, which is already paying 2 million euros, cannot support the management and financing of a high-level club on its own," Luc Monnet, chairman of the board of directors of the Boulogne-Billancourt Sport Development company (BBSD), owner of the Metropolitans 92, told Le Parisien.

"Today, it is difficult to cover this budget of €6 million. We are currently standing at €4 million- 4,5 million, but we're still €2 million short. We are looking for partners, investors or sponsors," he added.

The Mets also received a $750,000 buyout from Wembanyama's NBA buyout. However, as the ECA closed the EuroCup's door on the French league finalists preferring Bourg and Paris Basketball instead, sponsors weren't keen on investing.

If nothing comes to fruition, the relegation scenario is a possibility that has not been ruled out, even if Monnet continues to be optimistic.

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