Hely resigns as Sochaux boss

Eric Hely has resigned as manager of Sochaux following their humiliating 5-1 defeat at newly promoted Guingamp on Wednesday.

Sochaux sit at the foot of the Ligue 1 table after taking just two points from their opening seven games, with their heavy defeat in Brittany undoubtedly the lowest point of what has been a dismal campaign thus far.

Hely took over from Mehmed Bazdarevic in March 2012, steering them to survival before repeating the feat on the final day of last season.

However, the 48-year-old’s end has now come to an end, after president Laurent Pernet accepted his offer of resignation.

A statement on the club’s official website read: “FC Sochaux-Montbeliard would like to commend the professionalism and the work of Eric Hely for many years within the club and more particularly these two seasons where he participated actively in the maintenance of the club in the elite.”

Hely will remain with Sochaux in some capacity, though, with Pernet quick to praise him for his efforts with the Montbeliard club.

“Eric Hely will stay at the club in a function that remains to be determined, and we will continue to benefit from his experience and expertise,” Pernet commented.

“He is a man of courage that I welcome. Professionalism and commitment are a force for the club.”

Hely tendered his resignation on the back of another poor performance at the Stade du Roudourou, accepting that he had taken the club as far as he could.

“For the last 20 months, I have given everything along with my technical staff, the players and the board,” he said.

“I have saved the club twice but, in the interests of the club, I have offered my resignation to the board.”

Sochaux will aim to secure their first win of the season when they welcome Valenciennes to the Stade Auguste Bonal on Saturday.