The new president of Biarritz Olympique, Shaun Hegarty spoke at length via Sud-Ouest to discuss the sporting future of the Basque club.
The latter mentions a reduction in the budget, going from 11.5 million euros to 9 million. Extract:
“We had an interesting team on paper and we saw that it was complicated. Our real ambition is to have competitive players and to recreate a soul inside the locker room so that people can identify. This is what was missing a little last season, unfortunately. The ambition is also to be a club on which the Pro D2 will be able to count from next year.
We have built a more modest budget, of 9 million euros, but that does not mean that we will have a less competitive team since we are keeping approximately the same sports payroll (3 M€). What we are going to change is the way the club operates, which has lived like a Top 14 club. We are going to readjust it to life in Pro D2.”
Arnaud Dubois indicates for his part that this budget reduction will not impact the players’ salaries. Extract:
We’re not going to touch the receptionists, that’s Shaun Hegarty’s commitment. We are going to play on the costs of the club’s life, whether for its leaders or related expenses, on travel… Today, the club spends almost 300,000 euros to travel, when the Dacquois neighbors spend less than 80,000. There is a happy medium to be found.
At the same time, he clearly indicates that players who do not wish to play in Biarritz can pack their bags and will not be locked out by management. Extract:
Everyone is free. Mr. Debaes was released (in Vannes, at his request). From the moment a player does not want to play for Biarritz Olympique, we are not going to force him. Sports management does not want to part with anyone. Afterwards, if players do not feel part of this adventure for the next two or three years, let them tell us now so that we can find solutions together.
There are some who think they can earn more money elsewhere, which we will release or not, which we will have to replace or not. James Coughlan (manager) manages that, with Boris (Bouhraoua, head coach), and I carry out the financial arbitrations.
