Dijon Women’s team continues to defy expectations, currently sitting fifth in the French top flight as the season approaches its conclusion. However, their future hangs in the balance due to a severe financial crisis affecting the club, with the women’s section bearing the brunt of the cuts.

On April 9, players released a statement expressing feelings of being “unwanted from day one,” highlighting their concerns over the club’s abandonment of the women's team. Just days earlier, Dijon announced plans to reduce ambitions for the women’s side, contemplating the potential elimination of the professional team next season. The club stated, “In the absence of a buyer, no guarantees can be given regarding the level of competition for the teams next season,” raising alarms about the future of the women’s academy established in 2024.

The players have criticized the club's management, particularly President Pierre-Henri Deballon, for what they describe as “absent leadership” and “indifference” that threatens the existence of the women’s section. Deballon, who took over in July 2024, has focused resources on the men’s side, stating, “We cannot invest the same energy in men’s and women’s football. That’s unrealistic.”

Dijon’s women’s team faces a €5m deficit for the 2025-26 season, with the women’s section alone accounting for €1.5m in losses. However, players contest this figure, claiming it is closer to €600,000. A missed €200,000 subsidy from the French Football Federation further exacerbated their financial woes.

Despite these challenges, the squad remains united in their efforts to save the section, drawing motivation from other clubs like Bordeaux and Soyaux that have faced similar fates. They were blindsided by announcements regarding the potential end of their team, which they learned about through a club statement, leading to feelings of betrayal.

In a show of solidarity, the men’s team recently wore T-shirts reading “support for the women’s section” before their match against Sochaux, demonstrating an alliance between the two squads amidst a turbulent time.