RC Lens, whose promotion to Ligue 1 remains in jeopardy after being banned from joining the top flight on financial grounds, have appealed to the French Olympic Committee (CNOSF), France's highest sporting authority.

"It's our last resort. We hope to be heard as soon as possible to get the necessary guarantees," a source close to the club said.

The French Football Federation had confirmed the sanction imposed last month by the League's National Directorate of Management Control (DNCG).

The DNCG said Lens had failed to produce the 10 million euros ($13.4m) guarantee required.

Lens are owned by Azerbaijani businessman Hafiz Mammadov, who also owns FC Baku and English Championship side Sheffield Wednesday.

Club president Gervais Martel insisted that the 1998 French champions would do all they could to reach some form of agreement with the federation.

"We've modified our budget taking into account the ten million that did not arrive but rest assured we'll bring a few million in our bag when we're heard (before the CNOSF) and then we'll reduce the club expenditure a bit," Martel told French television.