Olivier Pantaloni ‘to leave’ Lorient at season’s end as talks stall | OneFootball

Ouest-France reports that head coach Olivier Pantaloni, 59, and assistant Yannick Cahuzac, both out of contract this summer, will leave Lorient at the end of the season.

The club marked their centenary at the weekend, but plans to announce clarity around Pantaloni’s future during the festivities did not materialise. The parties met again on Monday morning, without agreement, and Pantaloni was not seen at Le Moustoir.

Negotiations are continuing, positions remain apart, and a resolution is expected soon. Pantaloni’s stance is partly linked to a lack of clarity over the project since Black Knight Football Club became sole shareholder on 26 January.

After two fine seasons, featuring promotion then survival, and with Lorient ninth, he does not see himself continuing in these conditions. The club are seeking a director of football, with Demba Ba, currently at Dunkerque, emerging as a leading option, and Benoît Müller will replace Arnaud Tanguy as chief executive, arriving from Stade Rennais.

Sporting director Laurent Koscielny’s future is uncertain and the American owner, who also owns Bournemouth, 13th in the Premier League, has an idea gaining ground to use the club as a laboratory, in the Strasbourg mould. Contract length and salary disagreements could see Pantaloni depart after the final six matches. Cahuzac, 41, also appears close to an exit and could return to Artois to join Pierre Sage’s staff.

Source: L'Équipe