St Pauli have give a good idea of how Fabian Huerzeler’s departure to Albion helped put them back in the black.
The German club’s annual report appears to indicate the Seagulls paid them about 6.5 million Euros for the head coach when they reached agreement in the close season.
That is about £5.4 million, or less than a third of what Chelsea paid the Seagulls to take Graham Potter to Stamford Bridge two years ago.
The fee paid for Huerzeler makes up the bulk of the transfer income received by St Pauli, although they also saw teenage German right-back Eric da Silva Moreira head to Nottingham Forest for £1.4 million.
By subtracting that fee from the total income from transfers, the Hamburger Abendblatt newspaper have arrived at the sum paid by Albion for Huerzeler.
The report states further bonuses could be paid, depending on how he fares with the Seagulls.
Huerzeler’s exit helped St Pauli turn a loss of about £4 million the previous season into a six-figure profit last term.
Increased income from TV, merchandise and ticket sales also played their part as the club won the second tier title.
It is not specified what sort of bonuses could be payable by Albion to St Pauli.
But there is clearly great interest in the fact he has guided his new club to sixth place at this relatively early stage of the season.
The numbers highlight the small amounts club pay to bring in managers or head coaches compared to players.
St Pauli are currently 16th in the 18-team Bundesliga after Huerzeler guided them back to the top tier last season.
They have eight points from their first ten games, including wins away to Freiburg and Hoffenheim.
However there has been precious little to cheer at home.
While Huerzeler remains unbeaten at the Amex in the Prem, St Pauli have neither won nor scored a goal in five games on their own pitch at the Millerntor.
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