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French Ligue 1 Saint-Etienne coach sacked

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-11-11 09:47

PARIS -- French top flight Saint-Etienne fired coach Laurent Roussey on Monday after five straight league losses dropped the 10-time French champion into the relegation zone.

St Etienne's coach Laurent Roussey attends their UEFA Cup soccer match against Rosenborg Trondheim at the Geoffroy Guichard stadium in Saint-Etienne November 6, 2008. [Agencies]

Roussey was fired after a meeting with the club's directors, who were unhappy that Saint-Etienne has slipped to 18th place with 10 points from 13 matches.

Until a new coach is appointed, the team will be run by Alain Blachon, Gerard Fernandez, Roussey's assistant, and physiotherapist Thierry Cotte.

French reports said that Jacques Santini, Didier Deschamps and Alain Perrin are all in contention to become the new coach.

Roussey had guided Saint-Etienne to fifth place last season and a berth in the UEFA Cup. But poor early season form was compounded when Guinea playmaker Pascal Feindouno left the club and star striker Bafetimbi Gomis continued to struggle to score.