Nice have some big new owners with one of the UK's richest men, Sir Jim Ratcliffe  and his huge chemical company INEOS taking charge this week. He has been tracking the club for some time and made a big offer earlier this year. They are a company with roots in the area , with great business nous and experience in sport, including at the very highest levels and they will be looking to bring some of these skillsets into football. Ineos have already invested in football, also owning Lausanne, where and this is where Ratcliffe is different to a lot of hugely successful men, they admit that he and his team made mistakes, but they look back on track and set to reclaim their top flight status soon. Official club and INEOS statement is below, I think this is great for Nice and we can expect big things from them in the coming seasons and they have already been overachievers, with top 7-8 Ligue 1 finishes for several seasons on a 10th placed budget. I think INEOS bring so much more than funding to their ownership.

INEOS has today completed the deal to acquire OGC Nice Football Club.

INEOS, one of the world’s biggest and most exciting companies, owns a number of sports teams and believes its management philosophy will help to develop a strong club that will in time sustainably compete at a European level.     

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Chairman of INEOS said: "We are absolutely delighted about acquiring OGC Nice. It has been quite a long journey getting here, but it is unique, and we were determined to complete the purchase of the club. We have looked at a lot of clubs in the manner we look at businesses in INEOS - for value and potential - and Nice fulfils that criteria. With some sensible, measured investment, we want to establish Nice as a team that competes in European club competition on a regular basis. And importantly, sustain it.”

“OGC Nice has a great history and tradition, with a passionate fan-base, whom will play an important role in our journey. The Allianz Riviera stadium is superb and the new training centre, which is integral for any successful team, is equally as impressive. It’s tough to improve on the location on the Med and over the last 20 years we have established roots in this beautiful area.”

INEOS also owns Lausanne Sports Football Club, which it acquired in November 2017.

Sir Jim added: “We made some mistakes at Lausanne, but we are fast learners, these have been rectified and we are already seeing the benefits. Clubs need to be successful off the pitch, as well as on it, and OGC Nice will be no different, as we look to take the club from strength to strength in all aspects over the coming years.”

INEOS acquisitions drive for value and potential for growth, with a close eye on the performance and a focus on costs across all its business.

“Patience is also important and the work we do here will be built on solid foundations. We have a plan in place and we will follow it. I am adamant we will not be the dumb money,” said Ratcliffe.

Ratcliffe added: “It is a great compliment to our other sports initiatives - and it is also fantastic that the Tour de France starts in Nice next year, given the success of Team INEOS this year. Exciting times indeed.”

After two disruptive years, they have a "name" head coach at the helm and do not have to improve much to compete once again for European places and it feels time for them to kick on.