Football Season Guide

Ligue 2

France

Ligue 2

2016/2017

Stade Brestois

In

Julien Faussurier (mid) from FC Sochaux-Montbeliard; Luciano Castan (def) from Sao Bernardo (BRA); Neal Maupay (att) on loan from AS Saint-Etienne; Valentin Lavigne (att) on loan from FC Lorient; Louis Nganioni (def) on loan from Olympique Lyonnais; Bredan Chardonnet (def) from SA Epinal - loan ended.

Out

Alexandre Alphonse (r) (att); Alexandre Cuvillier (sp) (mid); Simon Falette (r) (def); Yaya Sane (sp) (def); Gregory Lorenzi (r) (def); Jean-Alain Fanchone (sp) (def); Jason Ranneaud (sp) (mid) - all released; Maxime Brillault (sp) (def) to US Boulogne; Baissama Sankoh (r) (def) to EA Guingamp - loan ended; Kevin Koubemba (sp) (att) to LOSC Lille - loan ended.

It is all change for Brest, who are looking for a fresh start after three consecutive underwhelming campaigns in Ligue 2. Alex Dupont was out of contract and has moved on after a second spell in charge at the Stade Francis-Le Ble. Replacing him at the helm of the Brittany side is the experienced Jean-Marc Furlan, whose long stint in charge of Troyes came to an end during a miserable campaign in Ligue 1 last season. Furlan never managed to succeed as a coach at the top level with Troyes but his record in Ligue 2 has been excellent and that is what the Bretons will be hoping to tap into. Furlan has a tough task, though, having to do some massive rebuilding work on a squad that has seen numerous players leave. "I don't know if people will be patient with me," admits the new coach. "When you come into a club who haven't won a game since March and when you have to reconstruct the squad, it's difficult but there is a fervour here that I like." Of Brest's objectives, Furlan added: "The desire to rapidly get back into Ligue 1 is legitimate, but I don't see how we can be among the favourites with everything that has happened."

Target

A promotion challenge of some kind.