Ligue 1 clubs trim travel, staff and operations as budget squeeze bites | OneFootball

With domestic revenues under strain and broadcast deals set to lapse next season, Ligue 1 clubs are cutting costs far beyond the dressing room. Savings touch administration, travel and delayed works, even though players and staff make up more than 80% of wage bills.

According to L'Équipe, Nice are slimming across departments while aiming to move on most big earners this summer. About 10 administrative posts have gone and recruitment has been reduced, with exits not replaced, including coordinator Morgan Boullier.

Rennes have paired ecology with economy, shifting club cars to fully electric and making their training base water self-sufficient. Players have not flown for trips under four hours by coach, and VIP offerings remain untouched within long-term partner packages.

Elsewhere, Le Havre lean on multi-tasking, with communications also handling marketing, the press officer doubling as stadium announcer and supporter liaisons writing website copy. Metz have delayed making all Saint-Symphorien seats garnet, and academy players are reusing last season’s kits.

Clubs are wary of short-term cuts that erode income, viewing digital and commercial as essential, and warning that over-cutting breeds negative momentum and greater reliance on transfers.

At Brest, a Champions League haul widely cited as 50 million has been spread across 10 million in bonuses, five million to Guingamp for games at the Roudourou, investments and wage rises, plus signings, with equity retained. Lyon acted hard last year, cutting about 100 staff, almost halving first-team wages and scrapping the stadium press buffet outside big games to save €75,000 annually.

Source: L'Équipe