Arles-Avignon coach Estevan faces sack

Arles-Avignon coach Michel Estevan has been told to step down from his position as management of the French League 1 new boys come to terms with a catastrophic start to the campaign.

Arles are the only side in the league not to have put any points on the board after five games, and host French champions Marseille on Saturday.

It is believed Estevan, who suffered the same fate at the end of June before being reinstated by the club, will be sacked in the coming days.

Club president Marcel Salerno said this time said he will not make the same mistake.

“That won’t happen again. He will be the one offering to leave, it won’t be me sacking him,” said Salerno.

Salerno added: “In companies, when things go wrong the boss sacks the man reponsible. It’s not a revolutionary concept.”

Estevan, 48, is credited with leading Arles-Avignon out of the amateur divisions to the cream of French football in five years.

However since the club’s promotion Estevan’s relations with the club’s top brass have soured.