The 33-year-old Belgian returns to management eight months after his dismissal from Southampton. He takes over at a club with a rich history in French football, and has already begun assembling his backroom team with familiar faces from the Auxerre academy.

Legends’ Influence

Still revealed that discussions with former Auxerre stars Djibril Cissé and Jean-Alain Boumsong, who will serve as his assistant managers, proved pivotal in his decision-making process. He also sought counsel from Guy Roux, the club’s most decorated manager.

“Djibril Cissé and Jean-Alain Boumsong – I’ve had them both together. Then I called Guy Roux,” Still told L’Équipe. “You can sense their love for the club. That really touched me.”

He confirmed that negotiations with both Bristol City and FC Lorient had reached an advanced phase before he opted for Auxerre. The manager attributed his final decision to his “instinct”, dismissing suggestions that the Burgundy club represented merely a fallback option following his exit from English football.

Return to Ligue 1

Still’s first competitive fixture in charge carries particular significance. Auxerre will open their Ligue 1 campaign against RC Lens, the club Still managed immediately prior to his spell at Southampton.

The reunion offers an immediate opportunity for the young coach to demonstrate the progress he has made since leaving France for the English Premier League. His previous tenure at Lens during the 2024-25 season marked him as one of European football’s most promising managerial talents before his controversial sacking by the Saints.

Now tasked with stabilising Auxerre in the top flight, Still brings a reputation for innovative tactical approaches and man-management skills honed across different leagues. The club will hope his decision to follow his heart translates into results on the pitch, beginning with that emotional curtain-raiser against his former employers.

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• AJ Auxerre

Sinayoko completed a transfer worth nearly €10 million to the capital club earlier in the window, leaving Auxerre without one of their primary attacking threats. The club have acted swiftly to identify Labeau-Lascary as their designated replacement, viewing the Lens youngster as a versatile option capable of operating across the front line.

Brest Loan Demonstrates Top-Flight Credentials

The prospective move follows a productive season-long loan at Stade Brestois, where Labeau-Lascary showcased his abilities in Ligue 1. Under manager Éric Roy, the forward made 28 appearances across all competitions, contributing six goals and registering one assist.

The Brest spell materialised after a proposed permanent transfer to SCO Angers collapsed last summer. Rather than stagnate, Labeau-Lascary used the temporary move to establish himself as a valuable squad member for a competitive top-flight side. His performances have convinced Auxerre that he possesses the requisite quality to step into Sinayoko’s role.

Injury Ordeal and Mental Resilience

The forward’s campaign was unfortunately curtailed by a serious setback in January 2025, when he suffered a cruciate ligament rupture. The injury ended his season prematurely and threatened to derail his momentum following an impressive first half of the campaign.

However, Labeau-Lascary has spoken openly about his recovery process. In an interview with Get French Football News, he stated that “going through this ordeal had made me stronger”. This mental fortitude will prove essential as he battles for a starting position at his new club while completing his rehabilitation.

Deal Structure and Next Steps

If concluded as anticipated, the transfer will see Labeau-Lascary commit his future to Auxerre until June 2031. The agreement represents a significant opportunity for the player to secure regular first-team football after finding opportunities limited at his parent club.

For Auxerre, securing a player with proven Ligue 1 experience mitigates some of the risk associated with replacing a €10 million asset. The club will expect the former Stade Lavallois trainee to adapt quickly to their tactical system once fully fit. Final confirmation awaits the completion of medical checks and the formal signing of documentation.

Valuation gap

Auxerre are holding out for €30 million to sanction the departure of their highly rated midfielder. This valuation stands at double the amount tabled by the Tigers, who earned promotion to England’s top flight last season and are actively seeking reinforcements to bolster their squad for the demanding campaign ahead.

Player hesitation

Even if Hull City meet the asking price, the transfer faces a further complication. Danois is not necessarily keen on the move and wishes to give himself adequate time to carefully consider his future. The midfielder will await further developments in the market before making any definitive decision.

Squad exodus

The approach comes during a period of significant transition for the French club. Auxerre are preparing to lose forward Lassine Sinayoko, who appears close to finalising a move to Paris FC, and further squad departures are anticipated as the transfer window progresses. Despite this potential exodus, the club remain firm on their stance regarding Danois, whom Premier League scouts have tracked for several seasons.

What happens next

With the recent conclusion of the FIFA World Cup, clubs across Europe are expected to accelerate their recruitment plans in the coming weeks. This heightened transfer activity could generate additional interest in Danois, providing the player with a broader range of options to evaluate. Hull City may therefore need to return with a substantially improved proposal or risk facing stiff competition from rival bidders if they hope to secure the Frenchman’s signature.

The 26-year-old has stopped attending sessions with the Burgundy club following a disagreement with the hierarchy. Auxerre’s management still intend to hold a final meeting with the Bamako-born striker prior to sanctioning his departure to the capital.

English bid overlooked

Financially, the arrangement with Paris FC represents a compromise for Auxerre. The fee is thought to range between €6.5 million and €10 million. The lower sum matches what the club expected to receive when Sinayoko’s move to RC Lens fell through last summer, whilst the higher figure reflects their current valuation of the international.

This amount falls short of the €13 million offer, excluding bonuses, tabled by Hull City. The recently promoted Premier League side were willing to exceed both the current agreement and the previous Lens valuation to secure the attacker’s services. Sinayoko has nonetheless indicated his preference for remaining in France with Paris FC rather than moving to English football.

Resolution expected

The training strike presents the final obstacle to completing the transfer. Sinayoko’s refusal to participate in preparation sessions stems from the ongoing conflict with club officials.

All parties anticipate the matter will be resolved shortly. Once the scheduled meeting between player and management takes place, Sinayoko should be cleared to finalise his switch to the Parisian club.

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• AJ Auxerre

While the club have not disclosed the financial details, L’Équipe reports that the transfer fee exceeds €2 million. The same publication understands that Makosso has signed a four-year contract, although Auxerre have not officially confirmed the length of the deal.

Return to France

The switch represents a homecoming for the defender, who first developed within the French football system. Makosso progressed through the academy at Sochaux, learning his trade in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region before departing for Belgian club RWDM.

He subsequently transferred to Luton Town, though first-team opportunities at the English club proved limited. To gain regular senior experience, the Congolese international spent the 2024-25 campaign on loan at Oxford United in League One, English football’s third tier.

Makosso has earned five senior caps for Congo.

Squad strengthening for survival

The acquisition forms part of Auxerre’s recruitment drive as they prepare for another season battling relegation from the French top flight. The club narrowly avoided the drop last term and are actively reshaping their roster.

Makosso follows Romain Faivre, who arrived on loan from AFC Bournemouth earlier in the window, as new faces brought in to improve squad quality. The defensive reinforcement addresses a specific need for depth at centre-back as the coaching staff aim to build a more resilient unit capable of securing their Ligue 1 status.

The Congolese defender will hope to establish himself in the starting eleven at the Stade de l’Abbé-Deschamps.

• Taïryk Arconte has scored 14 goals and provided three assists in Ligue 2 this term
• The 22-year-old forward has helped Rodez secure a fifth-place finish in the 2025-26 campaign
• AJ Auxerre, Millwall and Scottish champions Celtic are all monitoring the Guadeloupe international
• The striker’s current contract with the French second-tier side runs until 2028

Rodez forward Taïryk Arconte is drawing significant attention from clubs across Europe. The 22-year-old has netted 14 goals in France’s second tier this season. He has also contributed three assists for the Aveyron-based outfit.

The Guadeloupe international has been a vital part of his side’s push up the table. His performances helped Les Rafaleurs finish fifth in Ligue 2 at the end of the 2025-26 term. At international level, he has scored three times in seven appearances for his country.

Several teams are now weighing up moves for the player born in Les Abymes. AJ Auxerre are reportedly keen to bring him to Ligue 1. The Burgundy club are searching for a new striker amid speculation that Lassine Sinayoko could depart for the Premier League.

However, the French side face competition for his signature. Championship club Millwall and Scottish champions Celtic are also tracking the young forward. All three options would offer Arconte a step up in his career.

The striker remains tied to Rodez until 2028. This means any potential suitor must negotiate a fee with the Ligue 2 club. The coming weeks could prove decisive for his future.

• FC Lorient need a new manager after Olivier Pantaloni left the club this summer
• Wilfried Nancy has been out of work since January and openly wants a job in Ligue 1
• Will Still was the early favourite but is now set to join rivals AJ Auxerre
• Lorient’s owners, BKFC, have now made Nancy their primary target for the position

Wilfried Nancy has been without a club since January. The French manager could soon return to work in his home country.

FC Lorient are interested in hiring Nancy. The Ligue 1 side needs a new boss after Olivier Pantaloni’s departure.

Pantaloni left the club when his contract ended. He chose not to renew his deal. He felt the club’s hierarchy did not trust him. He had guided Lorient back to the top division and achieved a midtable finish.

Will Still was the first choice to replace Pantaloni. However, he is now expected to take over at AJ Auxerre instead.

Nancy has told the media he wants to work in Ligue 1. Last month, he spoke to RMC Sport. He said, “French clubs wanted to work with me before. The timing was not right. Now, I want to come to Ligue 1. I am ready.”

According to reports, Lorient’s owners, BKFC, now want Nancy to take the job at the Moustoir.

• Will Still set to become new AJ Auxerre head coach
• Christophe Pélissier faces dismissal despite keeping club in top flight
• Club owner James Zhou overrules president on coaching change
• Still unemployed since Southampton sacking last autumn
• Auxerre plan major player sales to raise €30 million

The Anglo-Belgian coach Will Still is ready to return to French football’s top division. The 31-year-old will take charge at AJ Auxerre, filling the space left by Christophe Pélissier’s expected departure.

Still has worked in Ligue 1 before with Stade de Reims and Racing Club de Lens. The young manager has been without a job since Southampton sacked him last autumn.

Pélissier’s exit surprises many fans. The Frenchman kept Auxerre in Ligue 1 for a second straight season. However, club owner James Zhou wants a change, even though club president Baptiste Malherbe supported Pélissier.

The new manager will face a busy summer. Sporting Director David Wantier, who did not agree with Pélissier, will lead transfer activity. The club plans to raise over €30 million by selling top players Lassine Sinayoko and Kévin Danois.

• AJ Auxerre have sacked head coach Christophe Pélissier even though he kept the club in France’s top division
• The manager had one year remaining on his contract with the Burgundy-based side
• Club owner James Zhou thanked Pélissier for achieving promotion and maintaining Ligue 1 status
• Will Still is expected to take over as the new manager at the Stade de l’Abbé-Deschamps

AJ Auxerre have ended their partnership with manager Christophe Pélissier. The decision comes even though the 58-year-old successfully guided the team to safety in France’s top division for a second consecutive campaign.

Pélissier still had twelve months remaining on his deal. However, club owner James Zhou decided to make a change. The Chinese businessman released a statement thanking the coach for his service during a difficult rebuilding phase.

“I want to offer my honest thanks to Christophe Pélissier and his team,” Zhou stated in the official club announcement. “They worked very hard. By bringing AJA back to the top level and keeping us there, they helped make the club stronger during a time of reconstruction.”

Club president Baptiste Malherbe also recognised Pélissier’s work across four seasons. The highlights include winning promotion to Ligue 1 in 2024.

According to French newspaper L’Equipe, Will Still will become the new boss. The Anglo-Belgian coach is currently without a club. Reports suggest he has already agreed terms with the Ligue 1 outfit.

• 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.