Ajaccio enjoyed an excellent season, although it will forever be remembered for the play-offs at the very end as they missed out on promotion back to Ligue 1.
Olivier Pantaloni's side were comfortably beaten 4-0 on aggregate by Toulouse in the relegation/promotion play-off as they failed in their attempt to return to the elite after a four-year absence.
They had come third in the regular season, an excellent effort for a team whose ambitions at the campaign's outset stretched no further than finishing in the top half. Pantaloni's side only had their hopes of automatic promotion ended on the penultimate weekend.
Their success was largely built on their excellent home record at the Stade Francois-Coty, with only champions Reims doing better in front of their own fans, and even then only due to a better goal difference. From the start of December to the end of the regular season, the Corsicans had nine wins and two draws in 11 games on their own turf.
Jean-Louis Leca was a valuable signing in goal, while Joris Sainati and Cedric Avinel were excellent at the back. Mathieu Coutadeur proved a fine signing in midfield and Ghislain Gimbert contributed 13 goals up front. Veteran Johan Cavalli and Riad Nouri were also key once again, with the latter scoring or creating 17 goals in total.
But Ajaccio's season ultimately came apart in their first play-off game at home to Le Havre. It was postponed by 48 hours after Le Havre's bus was attacked outside the Stade Francois-Coty, and then broke down, leading to safety concerns.
When it did go ahead, Ajaccio won on penalties after saving the tie with an equaliser five minutes into added time in extra time. But the two teams finished the match with nine men amid violent scenes and Ajaccio were forced to play the home leg against Toulouse behind closed doors in Montpellier as a punishment. That ultimately cost them dear.
