Initially I noticed this decline of a once high-flying – literally in his case- Hammers Striker who’d gradually fallen down the leagues but was still plying his trade as a shadow of his former self at the age of 35. I didn’t know whether to admire his never say die attitude or to feel sad that he is now playing in one of the lowest leagues in France having graced the London Stadium as recently as 2019.
What also caught my interest as I researched Andy Carroll’s gradual decline was the plight of his current club Bordeaux, six times French Champions but now, after a series of financial irregularities, relegated to the bottom tier of French pro football and then further forced into receivership which caused another demotion. My research took me to Newcastleworld.com who summed up the penalties now risked by clubs for breaking PSR and similar rules: ( are you watching Man City – who of course proclaim their innocence:)
Bordeaux then went into receivership after a decision taken by the city’s local commercial court in order to “allow (them) a season in the amateur National 1, however, the federal financial watchdog DNCG decided to relegate the club a further division to the fourth tier as per the French league’s (LFP) regulations, which stipulate a club in receivership must be “demoted to the division immediately below the one for which it would have qualified for the following season”.
So Former Hammers superstar Carroll finds himself playing for an amateur fifth league club. I’m still a bit open-mouthed about the penalty dished out to former French League Champions, to be honest!
A sad end to a stop-start career for Andy Carroll, too, but one which for me will always be remembered for ‘that’ overhead kick which I had the pleasure to witness in person from behind the goal at the other end: Still marvellous even when viewed from over 100 metres away.
