Former Bulgaria national team coach Silvano Prandi found himself in a difficult situation just over two weeks before the start of the 2026/27 season in France. Paris Volley, led by the Italian specialist, is facing serious financial problems and is looking for an investor to stabilize the club.
Already at the end of August, Le Parisien reported interest in Paris Volley from the esports organization Vitality, and subsequently L'Équipe confirmed that a proposal for the acquisition of the club was being discussed. However, a final decision has not yet been reached.
Among those involved in the fate of Paris Volley is club shareholder Stéphane Antiga, who also participated in its rescue during the previous severe financial crisis in 2018. The Frenchman is now at the helm of Bogdanka LUK Lublin, whose captain is Bulgarian international Alex Grozdanov, but he continues to closely follow developments at his former club.
"Discussions are ongoing, and I continue to believe that a solution is still possible. We are putting all our energy into this," Antiga stated.
However, the situation is becoming increasingly critical. According to the latest information, Paris Volley has about 10 days to find an investor, and if unsuccessful, the club may be forced to file for bankruptcy. Players and coaching staff have already been warned that if a solution is not found, they may be released in the coming days. As of now, Paris Volley has not officially announced such a development.
Prandi took over Paris in the summer
Silvano Prandi took charge of Paris Volley this summer, after concluding his long tenure at Chaumont earlier in the year.
Despite financial difficulties, Paris strengthened for the new season, with Daryl Bultor standing out among the new signings. The Olympic champion with France from Tokyo 2020 played for Ajaccio in the 2025/26 season and is now expected to be part of Prandi's squad. Thus, immediately before the start of the championship, sports issues remain secondary, and the main task for Paris is to find a way out of the crisis.
Molotkov came from Montana and became a hero in the French Cup
The club also has another direct connection to Bulgaria. In the 2025/26 season, one of its key players was Vasily Molotkov, who arrived in the French capital after his stint in Montana.
The Russian opposite became a hero in the French Cup final against Nice. Molotkov scored 33 points with 51% attack efficiency, and his ace ended the match. Paris won 3:1 (30:28, 25:23, 24:26, 26:24) and lifted the trophy for the first time since 2004. After the end of the season, Molotkov moved to Tours, where he will play alongside Earvin Ngapeth.
Just a few months after their French Cup triumph, Paris Volley is now fighting a completely different battle. The championship starts on October 17, but the decisive days for the club will come even before that – Paris urgently needs to find an investor to avoid the worst-case scenario.
photo: Nikolay Varadinov
