Barbosa's Troyes warning

By Laurent Picard.   Last Updated: January 1, 1970 1:00am

Sky Bet

Cedric Barbosa has vowed to do all he can to help Troyes stave off the threat of relegation, but says he will jump ship if the club drop down to Ligue 2.

Troyes are five points adrift of safety and have only five games remaining to haul themselves clear of danger.

Barbosa feels Troyes have paid the price for a lack of numbers, but is refusing to throw in the towel.

"I think that our squad is not big and hasn't got the Ligue 1 experience," Barbosa told But! "And when you lose Nivet and Blaise Matuidi in a month and a half, it counts.

"We have had a couple of offensive problems. Ziad Jaziri has been injured, then David Gigliotti, Georges Ba. All our little problems have forced the coach to change the team every week.

"I think that Troyes didn't have the budget required to create a competitive Ligue 1 team."

The 31-year-old has tasted life in Ligue 2 and has no desire to drop out of the top tier.

"I don't want to play in Ligue 2 any more," he added. "Even if it is not here, I want to stay in Ligue 1."