James Zhou sacks Christophe Pelissier, backs David Wantier, with Will Still favourite at Auxerre | OneFootball

James Zhou has sacked head coach Christophe Pelissier, who had one year left on his deal, and backed sporting director David Wantier, according to L'Équipe. Will Still is the frontrunner to take the Auxerre job.

Executive president Baptiste Malherbe and Wantier are due in Zhou’s Beijing office on Wednesday, but the owner acted beforehand. Pelissier, appointed in October 2022, oversaw relegation, an immediate return, then two survivals, the latest sealed by Sunday’s 2-0 win at Lille.

Malherbe informed the 60-year-old he must leave, with his assistant and the goalkeeping coach also departing. The payout is about two million euros. Relations between Pelissier and Wantier had become untenable.

Zhou has reinforced Wantier, valuing a 16 million euro positive transfer balance over the past two seasons during a TV-rights squeeze. Local fury changed nothing, with banners across the city and a protest planned for Saturday at 14:00 outside the Abbé-Deschamps. Ultras Auxerre 1990 plan to thank Pelissier and keep pressing for Wantier’s exit, saying the club has no future with him.

Zhou also bristled at Pelissier’s failure to thank him publicly for winter spending, notably the signing of Swiss centre-back Bryan Okoh, who later suffered a serious left-knee injury in the 2-1 match against Nice on 10 May. The search is underway, with Still, 33, leading. Alternatives include Alexandre Dujeux, 50, under contract at Angers until 2028, and Didier Digard, 39, who is out of contract at Le Havre. Malherbe’s own future could hinge on his wishes and Zhou’s.

Source: L'Équipe