James Zhou to decide between Christophe Pelissier and David Wantier at Auxerre | OneFootball

James Zhou, Auxerre’s Chinese owner, has summoned president Baptiste Malherbe and sporting director David Wantier to Beijing next week to choose between Wantier and coach Christophe Pelissier. According to L'Équipe, both will not be kept together next season.

Auxerre sealed safety with a 2-0 win at Lille on Sunday. Club legend Guy Roux, 87, has backed Pelissier, argued the sporting director role is unnecessary, and said the coach has faced internal opposition.

Pelissier, appointed in October 2022, has delivered six survivals in six Ligue One seasons he has started, yet he and Wantier have clashed over squad management.

Despite many Ligue One clubs changing coaches, Wantier pushed for continuity and Pelissier stayed, and Auxerre stayed up. Pelissier enjoys strong support from Malherbe and fans, while Wantier points to a €16m positive transfer balance across the past two windows.

Pelissier, contracted until June 2027, would cost about two million euros to dismiss. Zhou, who has been in China since last summer, has called Malherbe and Wantier to the capital and could speak to Pelissier by video.

Pelissier is being linked with Nantes, relegated to Ligue Two, and especially Toulouse, a club the Revel-born coach has long dreamed of leading.

Anglo-Belgian Will Still, a free agent since November 2025 after his Southampton sacking in the Championship, is also being mentioned. An active window is expected, with probable sales of Lassine Sinayoko for €10-12m and Kévin Danois for at least €20m amid Premier League interest.

Source: L'Équipe