Laurent Batlles in frame for Clermont Foot return after Tessier takeover? | OneFootball

Laurent Batlles could return to Clermont Foot, with a comeback under consideration following the club’s pending takeover by Stéphane Tessier.

According to L'Équipe, the former Troyes and Saint-Étienne coach is being weighed against one other candidate whose name has not surfaced, and it is not thought to be Grégory Poirier.

Clermont have a DNCG hearing on Tuesday at 14:30 to approve their accounts and confirm the purchase by Stéphane Tessier and his brother via ABL Finance. Nothing currently suggests a negative outcome, after which the new owners can move to finalise the coaching appointment.

The task of completing the hire falls to Karim Fradin, formerly president of Niort and Bayonne, who is expected to be officially named director of football this week.

Batlles impressed during his brief spell at Clermont, arriving in late October 2024 before being dismissed in early April 2025 with five matches remaining.

He and Tessier worked closely at Saint-Étienne between 2010 and 2015. Since leaving Auvergne, Batlles has rejected several offers, many abroad as well as in Ligue 2 and Ligue 3.

Poirier, who left Red Star, was close to Lausanne, but the Swiss club chose Luka Elsner. Clermont’s next head coach should be revealed by the end of the week.

Source: L'Équipe