News Focus
- Will Still is close to signing as the new manager of AJ Auxerre
- The Belgian coach has been unemployed since leaving Southampton in November
- He will replace Christophe Pélissier at the Ligue 1 club
- Sporting director David Wantier and president Baptiste Malherbe will keep their jobs
Belgian manager Will Still is set to make his return to French football. The 33-year-old is expected to take charge of AJ Auxerre in the coming days. Reports from Onze Mondial indicate that talks between the two parties are nearly complete.
The former Stade de Reims and RC Lens boss has been without a club since last November. He left Southampton FC after a difficult period that brought only four wins from sixteen matches. Now he looks set to replace Christophe Pélissier at the Burgundy-based club.
Sources suggest only minor details remain before the deal is finalised. The main point of discussion centres on the terms of Pélissier’s departure. Once this is resolved, Still will officially become the new head coach.
The appointment will not be the only change at the club. Despite recent uncertainty, sporting director David Wantier and club president Baptiste Malherbe are both expected to remain in their positions. This news brings stability to the management structure alongside the new managerial arrival.
Still knows Ligue 1 well from his previous work in France. Several other clubs including FC Lorient, Toulouse FC, and FC Nantes had also shown interest in his services. However, Auxerre appears to have won the race for his signature.