After releasing Andy Carroll and transferring Mamadou Fofana, Bernard Joannin would like to continue the slimming treatment of the already sparse squad of Amiens SC. Always with a view to economic regulation. Explanations.
An economic model running out of steam
There is definitely no small economy at Amiens SC. Despite around fifteen departures for only four recruitments – two loans and two free arrivals – since last summer, it is still time to downsize on rue du Cadeau. “ We reduced our payroll by €1M this year but it is still not enough. To balance our expenses, we must make salesassène Bernard Joanninduring an interview given to the club's official website. This is why I did not hesitate to let Mamadou Fofana go. »
And this even if this weakens the club from a sporting point of view. “ Obviously unless the player who leaves is advantageously replaced by another player who arrives, replies the president of Amiens SC, less and less inclined to fulfill the second part of said contract. Historically, we have always been forced at some point to sell our best players (…) This is an economic logic that no club can escape but that does not mean that the main shareholder, which I am, does not face its responsibilities because as soon as there is a need for cash , I personally vouch. »
Year in, year out, every year, Amiens has €12 million in revenue.Bernard Jeannin, president of Amiens SC
As was the case last summer to ensure the club's passage before the DNCG or even a few weeks ago during the intermediate hearing during the season. But beyond the shareholder's current account commitments, Amiens must also respect commitments in terms of sales, just to try to balance its accounts while the structural deficit has continued to skyrocket in recent seasons, even reaching the 13 million euros excluding transfer during the 2022/2023 season.
Mafouta, Gene, Leautey, happy will be the highest bidder
« Year in, year out, every year, Amiens has €12 million in revenue. This year, TV rights have dropped drastically, unexpectedly, judges the one who is also the president of the college of Ligue 2 clubs. When the clubs, last June, presented their budgets to the DNCG, they were told to provide the same level of TV rights revenue. This represented €2.4M but we received 60% less. Currently, instead of receiving €12M in revenue, we should have €8M. »
Following the logic established by the club in recent months, the next winter transfer window is expected to be full of movements… in the direction of departures. In particular to compensate for the scheduled sales which were not made last summer by an increasingly discreet recruitment manager. “ The club is doing well. He passed without any problem before the DNCG. On the other hand, we must expect new sales during the winter transfer windowBernard Joannin confirms. But there may also be none« .
A “reassuring” hypothesis that could be envisaged by a possible lack of offers than by a real presidential will. Last summer, Louis Mafouta, for example, refused to join Troyes, while Bastia did not have the cash to meet Amiens' demands. Owen Gene, Antoine Leautey and even Kylian Kaïboue are other possible candidates for a departure in January, knowing that no one is considered untransferable.
Photo credits: Hugo Pfeiffer/Icon Sport
