Orleans can look forward to successive seasons in the second tier for the first time in more than quarter of a century after avoiding an immediate return to the Championnat National. That is what happened when they last came up in 2014-15, but they came straight back up last year and this time they battled against adversity before avoiding relegation in the play-off, beating Paris FC 2-0 on aggregate. Didier Olle-Nicolle's side won 1-0 in the capital in the first leg with defender Joel Sami scoring the only goal before being sent off, and they then won by the same score in the return thanks to a Livio Nabab goal.
Survival came after they finished two points above the automatic relegation places and five points away from Auxerre and outright safety, although that was only after they were given a four-point deduction for failing to comply with financial regulations. Ultimately the decision to sack Olivier Frapolli at the season's halfway stage and replace him with Olle-Nicolle paid off. Orleans were bottom after 21 games with just 15 points, but they had the eighth-best record in the division after that, with eight wins and 27 points from their last 17 outings. Their home record - the eighth-best in the divison - played a large part in their great escape, while Michael Barreto was their standout performer, the former Troyes player contributing four goals and four assists from midfield as he featured in all but one game.
