Supporter Shareholders: Saint-Etienne, a club apart?

It's every fan's dream: to own, even if only partially, a few shares in their favorite football club. At AS Saint-Etienne (ASSE), this desire is becoming a reality. For the first time in the club's history, management has authorized a group of supporters to buy out the shares of a small shareholder in the sports organization, paving the way for its entry into the club's capital. To achieve this, there's only one condition: raise €150,000 before September 12th, "a completely achievable amount," according to Julien Beal, vice-president of the supporters' association Socios Verts, which initiated the fundraising campaign.

After four days of fundraising, more than €75,000 has already been raised from 3,000 different contributors. The minimum contribution is €19.33 for individuals and €420 for businesses. "When Socios Verts was created, the club was in serious financial difficulty," recalls Julien Beal, who works as a sales agent when he's not at the "Chaudron."