15th June 2001
Toulouse playing the waiting game
Libbra unwilling pawn in financial gambles of French club
(Stuart Crowther)

MARC LIBBRA IS THE UNWILLING victim of a club that appears to be run on a day-to-day and hand-to-mouth basis, with the outcome of forthcoming appeals to the French Football authorities appearing to have more say on the players future than any offers made by Hibernian or alleged to have been made by other clubs.

This is the clear view of those involved in French football, where Toulouse are regarded as being a poorly run club who are guilty of transfer dealings and general operations described by some insiders as a 'sham'.  Recent reports from the French club have indicated that apart from the bid from Hibernian for Libbra, they have received bids once again from Celtic and now Leeds United, and yet nobody in Glasgow and Leeds are prepared to confirm that they have any bids on the table and indeed Leeds United, as reported by Hibs.net this morning, have gone out of their way to deny any involvement in transfer dealings with Toulouse.

The crunch period for Toulouse will come next week, when two major decisions will be made by the French courts and football authorities that will have an impact on the demands being made by the club in their transfer dealings.  The courts in France will take a decision on fake passport allegations against some clubs whom, it is claimed, fielded ineligible overseas players.  The result of that case could conceivably see Toulouse regain their first division status, should their appeal be upheld and points lost against some teams be awarded in their favour. 

Libbra - it's all over his head! (sns)

Equally however, Toulouse could find themselves in the third division, should their appeal to the French football authorities against their further relegation to division 3 for 'financial irregularities' fall.  Hibs.net today has learned that Toulouse may attempt to strike up a bargain with the authorities, under which they would withdraw their court involvement in exchange for retention of their second division status, the administrative charges against them being dropped.  While such horse-trading might seem strange to those used to Scottish football, it is perhaps not so unusual in France and certainly not so in the case of Toulouse!

Caught in all of this is Marc Libbra, a player who has expressed a wish to return to Edinburgh and play for Hibernian.  Hibs have made a firm offer for the player, a fact admitted by a spokesmen for the French side who told Hibs.net today: "Hibs approached us with a bid of around £500,000 which we told them was too small, and said we would be looking for more at around £1,000,000 - they lay their offer on the table, we automatically ask for twice that amount then sit down and do business."  Clearly from such a statement, Toulouse are playing a dangerous game - should they discover next week that they will be in the French third division, then their demands look likely to drop dramatically, on the other hand if they managed to retain their division one status, it is likely they will hold out for £1m, a fee that is likely well out of Hibs reach.

The Toulouse spokesman would not confirm today that any other offers were currently on the table for Libbra, contrary to reports last night which suggested renewed interest form Celtic and the new interest of Leeds, the latter a club which has an abundance of striking talent which leads one to wonder why they would be interested in Libbra in the first place.  The club official however was more open in talking about the immediate problems facing his club, in saying: "All transfers are on hold until next week, probably Wednesday 20th, as the court will give their decision on the fake passport allegations currently enveloping the French First Division.  On the same day the club's appeal against their relegation on financial irregularities will be decided which throws a up a number of options.

"Toulouse could be playing in any one from three divisions next season depending on the outcome of a) their appeal against relegation in the courts, and b) their appeal to the league to overturn their enforced relegation for irregularities in the books. They can either be relegated once, twice or not at all!"  Hibernian for their part then would clearly be anxious to close a deal before next Wednesday, as the uncertainty surrounds the troubled French club.  What is clear is that Toulouse appear determined to take everything they do to the wire, and squeeze every ounce they can from any clubs interested in their players.  And sadly for Marc Libbra, that means a few sleepless nights yet before he finds if his dream of a return to Edinburgh will come to pass.