Grassi is increasingly alone at the head of the club, local entrepreneurs turn a deaf ear.
Under these conditions it is not easy to set up a competitive team. The right season seems to be 2001-2002: former Rossoneri Donatelli, now sporting director, builds a respectable team that makes it to the play-offs thanks in part to Toni Carruezzo's goals.

In the play-offs, Lucchese, led by D'Arrigo, has to face Triestina in the final. In the first leg it ends 2-0 for the Alabardati (Trieste football team).
In the return, in a packed Porta Elisa with the current curves recently built, the “RossoNeri” overturnes it: regulation time ends 3-1.
In extra time, the chance of a lifetime happens to the iconic man: Carruezzo goes to beat a penalty that could have closen the accounts. In an unreal silence, the captain kicks the ball, dispatching the goalkeeper, but the shot hits the post.The backlash is harsh, the guests find two goals and go to Serie B. Lucca sinks into disappointment, but late at night hundreds of fans go to Carruezzo's house to encourage him.

The team lives on in Serie C for a few years, then, in 2005, the year of the club's centenary, an entrepreneur of Syrian origin, Fauzi Hadj, arrives to rekindle enthusiasm.Teams are assembled at great expense, but are unable even to make the play-offs.
In 2008, however, the castle crumbles: Hadj, in increasing financial difficulty and with his foreign accounts blocked (he would later be arrested for fraudulent bankruptcy), is unable to cope.

The club is in disarray and fails to register for the next championship. 

It is the first bankruptcy in the club's history. It starts once again from Serie D, with two building entrepreneurs Giuliani and Valentini, and with the name Sporting Lucchese.
Director was Paolo Giovannini, coach Giancarlo Favarin: the pairing was perfect. In two years it is double promotion: Serie C1 is regained and the Second Division Super Cup is also won. The old logo and the name Lucchese Libertas returned.