Clermont Foot in talks to hire Laurent Batlles folloing Sébastien Bichard’s departure | OneFootball

L’Équipe have revealed that Clermont Foot are in talks with former AS Saint-Étienne manager Laurent Batlles about becoming their new head coach.

The news comes just hours after Sébastien Bichard’s departure from the club was confirmed. Bichard had taken over from Pascal Gastien at the end of last season, having initially arrived as one of Gastien’s assistants in March, with a view to taking over in the summer.

As always looked likely, Clermont Foot dropped back into Ligue 2 last season, however, Les Auvergnats were one of the favourites for promotion. Yet they have taken just nine points in their opening 10 games, leaving them 14th. Bichard and Clermont Foot therefore parted by mutual consent on Monday morning.

Clermont Foot are now in talks with former Saint-Eŧtiene and ESTAC Troyes manager Batlles, who has been out of work since leaving the former in December 2023. Talks are advancing and there is optimism that an agreement can be reached quickly, as per L’Équipe.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle