French club Perpignan have parted ways with head coach Franck Azema after enduring a nightmare start to their Top 14 campaign – eight losses from eight matches and not a single point on the board.
The Catalan outfit, French champions as recently as 2009, confirmed Azema’s dismissal on Monday following Saturday’s 29-22 defeat to fellow strugglers Montauban – a match billed locally as the “game of fear.”
In a brief statement, Perpignan said: “We confirm the sacking of Franck Azema. The next game will be overseen by the back-up staff, led by Mathieu Cidre.”
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The defeat left Perpignan anchored to the foot of the table, already facing an uphill battle to avoid relegation.
Last season, they finished second-bottom but still managed nine wins from 26 games. Their off-season recruitment drive – designed to spark a revival – has instead been followed by a complete collapse in form.
Cidre will take charge on an interim basis for this weekend’s daunting trip to third-placed Pau as Perpignan attempt to stop the rot and salvage their season.
– AFP
Photo: X /@usap_officiel
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French club Perpignan have parted ways with their head coach after enduring a nightmare start to their Top 14 campaign.
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