Bankrupt Montauban have been thrown out of France's professional rugby leagues, with the further threat of liquidation still a possibility.

The Tarn et Garonne outfit finished 12th in Top 14 last season but were subsequently relegated to ProD2 after filing for bankruptcy, saving Bayonne's blushes in the process. But now they have suffered a second body blow after being demoted even further having failed to convince the DNACG - the league's financial watchdog - they had a viable budget to play in ProD2 for the 2010/11 season.

Top 14 Table  / Top 14 leading scorers / Top 14 Results / Top 14 Fixtures

That means the club, which was playing in the Heineken Cup as recently as 2008/9, will now drop down to the amateur ranks of the Fédérale divisions, although to which one is still undecided. The DNACG and the LNR have both confirmed the double drop, with Aix-en-Provence now becoming the second club to benefit from Montauban's financial malaise.

After Bayonne were spared relegation to ProD2, Provence have now escaped relegation to Fédérale 1 despite finishing 15th in ProD2. Montauban still have the right to appeal (within 10 days), but given their current circumstances and the DNACG's increasingly hard-line stance it is difficult to envisage any reversal of Thursday's decision.

It is a sad tale of financial woe for Montauban, and a harsh lesson to any club seeking to operate beyond its means. The decision as to which of the three Fédérale divisions it will compete in next season now hangs with the FFR, which will announce its ruling shortly.

The club initially went into receivership on April 26th but had hoped that it would play in ProD2 next season after putting forward a proposed budget of €5.5m for 2010/11. However, following Thursday's meeting with the DNACG it has now slipped back into France's amateur ranks, and could yet fold altogether.

Put in simple terms the club has overspent in recent seasons and now cannot draw in sufficient extra funds to convince the DNACG that it can meet all of its financial obligations.

Daniel Havis, CEO of the club's main sponsor Matmut, pledged €200,000 to cover the club's reserve funds but said an additional €200,000 would only be forthcoming once he had been presented with "a proper budget, credible and serious".

Montauban coach Sebastien Calvet said he had "a sense of waste" after confirmation of the DNACG's decision. He believed the club had a viable proposition for playing in ProD2 but added that he was also "disgusted with the past management" for allowing the current situation to develop. "I'm shocked to see how it has managed so many millions without respect and competence," he added.

Aix-en-Provence, meanwhile, are now readying themselves for an unexpected return to ProD2, with president Lucien Simon confirming the club is looking to strengthen its playing squad with the addition of a dozen new recruits.

Top 14 Transfers 2010/11

The other major news in French rugby is that Stade Francais prop David Attoub has had his massive 70-week ban reduced to 52 following an appeal to France's Comite National Olympique et Sportif Francais.

The 28-year-old prop will now be able to start playing again on 18th December 2010 - rather than 23rd April 2011 - although he still described himself as "disappointed" after th CNOSF's decision.

The player, who was originally banned for 70 weeks by ERC after eye-gouging Ulster's Stephen Ferris, also said he now had to cover legal costs of €60,000.