This Monday, Midi Olympique threw a stone into the ponds.
That of the XV of France and that of the Stade Français Paris.
According to the bi-weekly, the staff of the Blues continues its dismantling.
After the 2023 World Cup, we already knew that the head of physical preparation, Thibault Giroud, would join Racing 92. This time, we learn that Laurent Labit, assistant in charge of three-quarters, and Karim Ghezal, head of touches, would be in (very) advanced contact with the Stade Français Paris.
Of the deputies closest to Galthié (his current staff has 22 members), there remains the case of William Servat, in charge of the forwards, and Shaun Ewards, the head of defense.
The first named should extend his lease with the XV of France.
The second is waiting to learn more about the succession of Eddie Jones at the head of the XV of England after the 2023 World Cup. But the FFR is doing its best to convince him to stay four more years.
With a good chance of doing so.
The manager of the Blues, Raphaël Ibanez, would be him, in the process of extending.
Mignoni and Mola probed to replace Labit
In summary, the close supervision could be renewed by half, Ibanez, Servat and Edwards continuing the adventure;
Labit, Giroud and Ghezal to be replaced.
Still according to Midi Olympique, some leading coaches have already been surveyed: Pierre Mignoni (Toulon) and Ugo Mola (Toulouse) to take Labit's place;
the English Paul Stridgeon (passed by the RCT at the time… Laporte, the XV of England and that of Wales on the CV) to compensate for the departure of Giroud.
New blood which, in the end, could be beneficial to the XV of France rather than a double mandate (eight years) without the slightest change.
The announcement of Midol will cause more turbulence within the Stade Français Paris.
A staff is in place: manager Gonzalo Quesada, his assistants Julien Arias (attack) and Laurent Sempéré (forwards).
His maintenance for next season therefore now seems uncertain.
Contacted by us, the CEO of the Parisian club, Thomas Lombard, did not wish to react.
But we can legitimately think that the timing is uncomfortable.
The season has just started and the staff in place is already weakened.
Will his speech continue to pass to the players?
Read also XV of France: do the Blues really play more than the British?
This possible change of manager, however, confirms our information that relations between Gonzalo Quesada on the one hand, Thomas Lombard and Christophe Moni (the team manager) on the other, have cooled in recent months.
As for the president-owner of the SFP, the Swiss-German businessman Hans-Peter Wild, he is in favor of an electroshock.
Shows his desire to lead a "
more professional
" club.
Strengthen the attractiveness of Stade Français on the transfer market
He also wants to strengthen the attractiveness of Stade Français on the transfer market.
This requires good results and / or a new staff capable of convincing leading players to wear the lightning jersey.
These rumors could finally have the consequence of pushing Gonzalo Quesada to study very closely the possibility of taking the head of the Pumas - the Argentine selection - in 2024, once the World Cup in France has passed.