In a bold move to shock their system back to life, Perpignan has axed two assistant coaches after a dismal start to the Top 14 season. Among the casualties is former French midfield maestro David Marty, alongside defence strategist Gerald Bastide, signaling a desperate bid for revival.
The decision was a direct response to a string of defeats that saw the club languishing at the bottom of the league table, with zero wins and five losses, including a recent 11-28 thrashing at home by Stade Francais. The situation has been so dire that even last season's play-off victory to secure their place in the Top 14 now seems a distant memory.
The club convened urgent meetings this past Sunday, resulting in the Monday morning announcement. "After careful consideration," a club statement outlined the drastic steps taken to incite a turnaround. The decision was portrayed as mutual, with both Marty and Bastide stepping down "for the good of the team."
"This Sunday, the president and the general manager met at length with the players’ representatives, who expressed their desire to fully assume their responsibilities in the face of the poor sporting results at the start of the season."
Despite the shake-up, Franck Azema remains at the helm, tasked with steering the club away from the relegation abyss. He will be flanked by Mathieu Cidre and Nicolas Mas, both of whom are expected to play pivotal roles in this critical phase.
"The president reiterated his confidence in Franck Azema and asked him to continue his mission, supported by Mathieu Cidre and Nicolas Mas, with the aim of rectifying the sporting situation."
In concluding remarks, the club emphasized its need to rally collective efforts and urged the USAP fanbase to support them more fervently than ever. The club has decided to withhold further comments on these decisions, choosing instead to focus solely on the battles ahead. With a crucial match against Lyon on the horizon, it's clear that Perpignan is aiming to translate these bold administrative moves into tangible on-field success.
As the club navigates through this turbulent period, the eyes of the rugby world will be keenly watching to see if this "electroshock" treatment can indeed jolt Perpignan back into competitive form.
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In a bold move to shock their system back to life, Perpignan has axed two assistant coaches after a dismal start to the Top 14 season. Among the casualties is former French midfield maestro David Marty, alongside defence strategist Gerald Bastide, signaling a desperate bid for revival.
The decision was a direct response to a string of defeats that saw the club languishing at the bottom of the league table, with zero wins and five losses, including a recent 11-28 thrashing at home by Stade Francais. The situation has been so dire that even last season's play-off victory to secure their place in the Top 14 now seems a distant memory.
The club convened urgent meetings this past Sunday, resulting in the Monday morning announcement. "After careful consideration," a club statement outlined the drastic steps taken to incite a turnaround. The decision was portrayed as mutual, with both Marty and Bastide stepping down "for the good of the team."
"This Sunday, the president and the general manager met at length with the players’ representatives, who expressed their desire to fully assume their responsibilities in the face of the poor sporting results at the start of the season."
Despite the shake-up, Franck Azema remains at the helm, tasked with steering the club away from the relegation abyss. He will be flanked by Mathieu Cidre and Nicolas Mas, both of whom are expected to play pivotal roles in this critical phase.
"The president reiterated his confidence in Franck Azema and asked him to continue his mission, supported by Mathieu Cidre and Nicolas Mas, with the aim of rectifying the sporting situation."
In concluding remarks, the club emphasized its need to rally collective efforts and urged the USAP fanbase to support them more fervently than ever. The club has decided to withhold further comments on these decisions, choosing instead to focus solely on the battles ahead. With a crucial match against Lyon on the horizon, it's clear that Perpignan is aiming to translate these bold administrative moves into tangible on-field success.
As the club navigates through this turbulent period, the eyes of the rugby world will be keenly watching to see if this "electroshock" treatment can indeed jolt Perpignan back into competitive form.