In the 2005–06 season, French football club Chamois Niortais played in the Championnat National, the third tier of football in France, following their relegation from Ligue 2 at the end of the previous campaign. Philippe Hinschberger was hired as Niort manager in the summer of 2005, replacing Pascal Gastien. Hinschberger led the club to the National title in 2005–06 with a record of 20 wins, 10 draws and 6 defeats from their 38 league matches. New signing Benoît Leroy was the team's top goalscorer with nine league goals.