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ZAMBIA coach Herve Renard’s decision to have Patrice Beaumelle as his assistant at French Ligue I side FC Sochaux has turned complex, thus the 2012 Africa Cup winner pulling the plug on the club’s coaching job.
Renard was in line to land the managerial role at Sochaux after his rival Pablo Correa of Uruguay shunned the final round of interviews last Friday.
But his wish to return to France with Beaumelle has drawn the complexity for the new job.
Renard and Correa made the shortlist for last Friday’s second round of interviews but the Uruguayan did not attend and by Saturday, the Zambia trainer was the sole choice for the vacant position left after the resignation of Eric Hely.
But Sochaux’s condition that Renard works with the other coaches – Omar Dar, Eric Peroger and Bernard Gines – has not pleased the former Angola national team coach.
France’s L’equipe.fr reported yesterday that: “The Zambia coach and winner of the Africa Cup of Nations 2012, Renard, seemed the ideal candidate but his desire to come with an assistant of his choice would have made the negotiations difficult.
“The club wishes indeed to share these responsibilities with Omar Dar, Eric Peroger and Bernard Gines, the three men currently in charge of the team, a condition that would have pushed Renard to end the negotiations.”
With Renard off the job, Sochaux are likely to engage 1998 World Cup winner and former France assistant coach Alain Boghossian.
Another report by bfmtv.com indicates that Renard was this week poised to be named coach at the French side and was due to meet with his current employers the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) for contractual talks.
Renard is tied to the Chipolopolo job until July 2014.
The Frenchman said it would be an interesting offer to be back in his native France.
“It would be a great opportunity for me to be back in France. When you are in this situation, you cannot say too much but I was proposed. It is up to them to make their choice. But for me it will be an interesting offer.
“It remains just thirty matches, it’s a great challenge for us and I am sure we can do something to save the club. I believe I can be successful here. It would be nice to prove it. Challenges like these, it’s my passion. I have always dreamed and I’m not afraid to say it,” Renard said.
Renard would have been reunited with Chipolopolo striker Emmanuel Mayuka if he had succeeded in joining Sochaux.
Mayuka moved to Sochaux on the summer transfer deadline from English premiership Southampton.
Sochaux are perched fifth from the bottom with five points from eight games.
