Interesting news as well about Servette. It appears one of the things that has really hampered the team is its stadium lease. It is possible that they could leave the Stade de Geneve and play at either Stade de Fontenette (Etoile Carouge), or Stade aux Trois-Chênes (FC Meyrin). Both are much smaller, Fontenette with around 7000 places, and Trois-Chênes around 2500. Another possibility would be Frontenex, in the Parc des Eaux Vives, this is where UGS plays. The issue is that none of these are really on public transportation lines. Meyrin is down the hill from a Tram stop, and about 25 min from the center of town. Frontenette is close, but just over the Aarve river and sort of tricky to get to. They have just done a renovation, and it looks nicer now. Frontenex is quite old. None compare to the modern Stade de Geneve. That would be strange to have a stadium, and a nice one at that, without a primary tenant. Pictures in the links Stade de Fontenette Stade aux Trois-Chênes Stade de Frontenex,
One thing I absolutely adore about Switzerland/Liechtenstein football stadiums is the view. With the exception of St. Jakob Park and the Letzigrund, every stadium has a wonderful, picturesque view. As for two of the stadiums you posted, I can't even believe that Le Stade de Frontenex is even considered a stadium. The grandstand looks like a golf course property. I mean, it looks cool and all, but that's absurdly small. I like Le Stade de Fontenette. I think that would be the best. I think Le Stade aux Trois-Chenes might be reasonable, but it still seems really small.
I agree that Frontenex is not really an option. It is also a Velodrome, hence the asphalt around the field. This would be a better option than Frontenex if they leave the Stade de Geneve Stade de Varambe The best option would be ground sharing with Etoile Carouge.
FC Gossau vs FC Stade Lausanne-Ouchy 1-1 Yverdon - Kriens 1-6 Zug - FC Wetttswil-Bonstetten 2-2 Baden - Cham 0-4 Advantage Cham, Kriens, Lausanne-Ouchy and Wettswil-Bonstetten. The reverse fixtures this Saturday.
Le Varambe looks somewhat like Stadion Allmend in Zug which is considered suitable for the Challenge League. maybe they can give that one a go.
OK, here the the Servette update. There are in theory at least three different groups who had said that the team might interest them, an English one, a Brazilian one, and a local one. Also, the Servette players have put in a request with the Swiss Football Players Association with regards to their 2 months back wages. One other interesting note, no.net of the players, unless it was in their contract, will be freed from their contracts even if the teams goes down to the 2nd Interregional League. This is a chance enacted in 2012. So if the club does not respond to the request by the players to pay them their back wages in 10 days, they are then free of their contracts. If the club wants to keep its players, they need to pay the back wages. Then if individuals want to be transferred, that can happen, just not automatically. If the club is not going to pay salaries, watch for a fire-sale as we get closer to the 10 day deadline. Imagine the same Servette squad playing in the 2nd Interregional League! On the bright side, if they do go down, and lose their players, this would give the young Servette players, of which there are quite a few good ones, and chance to win promotion.
SC Cham - FC Baden 5-0 Wettswill - Bonstetten vs Zug 0-0 Stade Laudanne Ouchy - Gossau 3-2 Kriens - Yverdon 2-1 Here are the 4 teams that will play for promotion. Cham Kriens Stade-Lausanne-Ouchy Wettswill-Bonstetten
Things might actually end up ok for Servette. There are still some items to overcome, but it looks like Servette will not go bankrupt. A group of local investors has stepped forward and will purchase the team and take over the running of the team. They will also assume the 5 million CHF in debt and pay that off. Now, if Servette can keep the majority of their players, they should have a short stay in the Promotion League. Only time will tell.
Update: Quennec is out and the Foundation 1890 are the new owners/operators of the club. The 5 million in debt that is owed will be payed in the next few days, money is already set aside in a bank account for this. Rumor has it that the Fondation Wilsdorf is behind the group. The Fondation Wilsdorf is Rolex! If that is the case, that is great news for Servette. It looks like Promotion League is where they will end up. Questions remain on who will be still the team, with one player leaving for sure, and also the coaches, but it looks like Servette will rise again.
Articles in English: http://www.thelocal.ch/20150608/winemaker-rides-to-geneva-football-clubs-rescue https://www.worldradio.ch/news/0615/servette-fc-saved-from-bankruptcy-.html
10 June Stade Lausanne-Ouchy - Kriens 2-2 Wettswil-Bonstette - Cham 2-5 Cham gets a great start for promotion.
Hopp Cham!! If I have to return to Switzerland in August for work, I hope Cham makes the Promotion League since that's the only league I haven't seen a game in. If they win promotion, I wonder if they'll play their games at Stadion Allmend in Zug since it's bigger.
I would assume they will try and play in Cham, but Zug does have a bigger stadium, and that might be required.
Time to resurrect this for the 2015-2016 season. Matches start today in the Promotion League, and all of the others this Saturday. 5 Aug Breitenrain - FC Koeniz FC Rapperswil-Jona - Kriens SC Bruehl - FCSG II Stade Nyonnais - Basel II Etoile Carouge - Sion II SC YF Juventus Zurich - Cham Tuggen - FCZ II Old Boys - Servette Servette is the far and away favorite to win the league and earn promotion. Now they just need to play the way they are capable and they will be champions. But there is a long season ahead.
The OB - Servette match is being streamed live in English here: http://www.servettefc.ch/fr/actualite/article-7228.html
Here is the direct link: https://new.mycujoo.tv/home/live Looks like they will stream a lot of FCZ women's matches.
5 Aug Breitenrain - FC Koeniz 1-1 FC Rapperswil-Jona - Kriens 2-0 SC Bruehl - FCSG II 3-1 Stade Nyonnais - Basel II 2-3 Etoile Carouge - Sion II 1-2 SC YF Juventus Zurich - Cham 1-5 Tuggen - FCZ II 2-3 Old Boys - Servette 2-1 Wow, not the way that Servette wanted to start the season. Congrats to Cham! Etoile Carouge allowed Sion II to score in stoppage time. 8 Aug Basel II - SC YF Juventus Zurich Breitenrain - Stade Nyonnais Cham - FC Rapperswil-Jona FCZ II - FC Koeniz Sion II - Old Boys FCSG II - Servette Kriens - SC Bruehl Etoile Carouge - Tuggen
Cham is in first place! Start getting the Allmend ready because Cham are going to the Challenge League!! **(Not actually going to happen)
8 Aug Basel II - SC YF Juventus Zurich 2 -2 Breitenrain - Stade Nyonnais 0 - 4 Cham - FC Rapperswil-Jona 2 - 2 FCZ II - FC Koeniz 1 - 4 Sion II - Old Boys 2 - 2 FCSG II - Servette 1 - 2 Kriens - SC Bruehl 2 - 0 Etoile Carouge - Tuggen 0 - 3
15 Aug Rapperswil-Jona - Basel II 2-0 Tuggen - Sion II 1-1 19 Aug SC Bruehl Cham 5-2 Stade Nyonnais - FCZ II 4-2 Koeniz - Etoile Carouge 2-1 YF Juventus Zurich - Breitenrain 1-1 Servette - Kriens 2-0 Old Boys - FCSG II 1-2 FC Koeniz 7 Rapperswil-Jona 7 Stade Nyonnais 6 Bruehl 6 Servette 6 Sion II 5 Tuggen 4 Cham 4 Old Boys 4 Basel II 4 Kriens 3 FCSG II 3 FCZ II 3 YF Juventus Zurich 2 Breitenrain 2 Etoile Carouge 0
More issues with Servette. This time Ousmane Doumbia and Paulinho have both been denied work permits. Although the SFL recognizes professional players in the Promotion League since 2012. The Swiss Government still has some issues with it. Both Doumbia and Paulinho are questionable for the remainder of the season.
Where would they go if they were denied permits? Would they have to leave the country, or try to find work elsewhere?