‘I’m shocked’ – Eric Roy reacts to Brest’s austere transfer window | OneFootball

“I have been told about the financial state of the club. I don’t think that there will be too much investment in players for next year,” said Stade Brestois manager Eric Roy at the end of last season. He has been proven right.

The club’s UEFA Champions League adventure last season wasn’t a trampoline to allow them to compete with the elite in French football; it merely allowed them to survive. “Luckily, there was this adventure in the Champions League because without it, we would have closed down,” said Roy, who added that he believed that Brest would be “condemned to fighting for [their] survival” this season.

Lees-Melou the next to leave Brest?

The transfer window has been tough on Brest, who have seen their squad plundered. In order to fight on two fronts last season, a loan army was brought in, many of whom have now left. Ludovic Ajorque is a notable remainee.

Abdallah Sima, Romain Faivre, Soumaila Coulibaly, Edimilson Fernandes, and Ibrahim Salah all left upon the expiry of their loans. Meanwhile, Mahdi Camara, Karamoko Dembélé, Mathias Pereira Lage, Massadio Haidara, Marco Bizot, Jordan Amavi, and Jonas Martin have all also left. As per Ouest-France, Pierre Lees-Melou could also be set for an exit amid talks with Paris FC.

A smaller budget than Metz

In terms of arrivals, there is only Ajorque, whose loan was made permanent for €2m, Joris Chotard, who arrived over the weekend for under €3m, Radoslaw Majecki, who has joined from AS Monaco on a straight loan deal, and Junio Diaz, who has joined from Ligue 2 side Troyes on loan.

It is a dire state of affairs that is frustrating Roy. “I saw that we had the second smallest budget [in Ligue 1]. It’s true that we don’t have any means. But I am still shocked that we have a smaller budget than Metz, who are coming up from Ligue 2, when we are just coming out of the Champions League. But, well, it’s unfortunately the state that the club is in,” said Roy after Sunday’s 2-0 loss to Toulouse FC.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle