Brest manager Roy and sporting director Lorenzi address future amid Nice links
Stade Brestois manager Eric Roy and sporting director Gregory Lorenzi have addressed speculation over their futures at the club following links to a move to OGC Nice. Both men were questioned by Ligue 1+ during the broadcast of Brest's 3-3 draw with Lens on Friday, a result that mathematically secured the club's top-flight status for another season. Roy, under contract with the Breton club until 2027, initially deflected questions about a potential departure. "I don't know, I'm not aware," Roy said. "From there, it's easy for me. That's a question you have to ask him. I can't talk about something I don't know."
When pressed further, the former Nice player offered a slightly more definitive stance. "I don't know anything, I'm under contract. There's no reason for me to leave. That's it, but well. Time will tell," he concluded. The questions arise amid consistent reports in the French media that Nice, owned by INEOS, are considering Roy as a candidate for their managerial position ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.
Earlier in the evening, sporting director Gregory Lorenzi also faced questions about rumors linking him with a move to the Cote d'Azur. The Corsican, who has been in his post at Brest since 2018 and is widely credited with building the squad that currently sits comfortably in mid-table, acknowledged the speculation but emphasized his current focus. "It's always pleasing. When you are solicited, when people think of you, it shows that you are perhaps on the right path," Lorenzi stated. "But I have put personal interest second. What matters to me is the club. We must be 100% focused on the objectives."
Lorenzi stressed that with five matches remaining in Brest's season, his priority is the club's final push. "It's difficult to talk about your personal case. I don't want to disrupt or weaken anything. The future will hold something for us that I am not yet certain of and that I am unaware of. We'll see at the end of the season," he added. His comments leave the door open for a potential move once the campaign concludes, aligning with the typical timing of major administrative changes in French football.
The potential dual departure of Roy and Lorenzi would represent a significant challenge for Brest. The pair have been instrumental in the club's recent stability and success, guiding them to a fifth-place finish last season and now ensuring survival with games to spare. Roy, appointed in January 2023, successfully implemented an attacking style of play that has made Brest one of the more watchable teams in Ligue 1. Losing both the head coach and the architect of the squad in the same summer could disrupt the project's continuity and force a major rebuild. For Nice, securing a proven Ligue 1 manager like Roy and an experienced sporting director like Lorenzi would signal a clear intent to revamp their own structure after a period of underwhelming results.
