Brest cut wages after Champions League windfall and TV rights drop | OneFootball

Stade Brestois have trimmed their wage bill despite last season’s lucrative Champions League run, opting for prudence amid falling domestic TV income.

According to L'Équipe, Brest received €50m from UEFA after a campaign that ended in the play-offs against PSG, yet costs for transfers, travel, staging games in Guingamp, bonuses and pay rises eroded the windfall. The club therefore avoided heavy off-season spending.

Brest also reinforced their equity to cover roughly two financial years. Head coach Eric Roy, who extended his deal in May, praised the cautious approach and said a ballooning payroll and impulsive signings might have left the club in serious difficulty.

The average monthly salary has fallen to €50,000, from €60,000 in 2025, following departures of high earners Pierre Lees-Melou, Marco Bizot, Mahdi Camara, Abdallah Sima, Massadio Haïdara, Edimilson Fernandes, Mathias Pereira Lage and Jonas Martin. Sporting director Grégory Lorenzi said he avoided replacing them on similar bands after president Denis Le Saint requested deeper cuts than in 2023-2024, when Brest finished third.

Lorenzi noted the club ended the year in profit after being in the red before the final accounts, with €30m of sales contributing. He said the post Champions League period is being managed this season and will be next, with self-financing the aim unless the shareholder contributes.

Only Ludovic Ajorque earns more than €100,000 per month, with most senior players between €50,000 and €70,000, supplemented by standard bonuses.

Looking ahead, many contracts expire in June 2027. Lorenzi said keeping big earners would rule out pay cuts, while departures would require replacements who can match performance levels. He added the president will make the final call on spending.

Source: L'Équipe