Laurent Batlles leaves Saint-Étienne after five-game losing streak
Laurent Batlles is no longer the manager of Ligue 2 side AS Saint-Étienne. The club were beaten by EA Guingamp on Tuesday (3-1) in what was their fifth defeat on the bounce.
It was a toxic atmosphere at the Geoffrey-Guichard after ASSE’s latest defeat. As the players went over to applaud their fans, the supporters, in unison, turned their backs on the team, literally. The situation was untenable and shortly after midnight, the club’s president, Jean-François Soucasse announced Batlles’ departure.
Batlles arrived at Saint-Étienne 18 months ago but has now been replaced by Laurent Huard, the technical director of the academy, who will take interim charge of the Ligue 2 club that currently sit in 8th place. The search for Batlles’ long-term successor is now underway.
According to L’Équipe, former Toulouse FC manager Philippe Montanier has already rejected the role. It is therefore Thierry Laurey who is in pole position to become the new manager of Saint-Étienne, although former Montpellier HSC manager Olivier Dall’Oglio is also in the running.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle
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