Pelissier tasked with preserving Auxerre's Ligue 1 status

Auxerre, France, Oct 26, 2022 (AFP) - Christophe Pelissier's ability to keep modest teams in Ligue 1 saw him appointed coach of strugglers Auxerre on Wednesday.

The 57-year-old guided both Lorient in 2020 and Amiens in 2017 into the French top division -- Lorient are still there and Amiens stayed up in both the 2018 and 2019 seasons.

Pelissier -- who signed a two-year contract with an option for a third -- replaces Jean-Marc Furlan, who was sacked on October 10 with the club languishing in 18th in the table.

Furlan had been at the helm for three years and restored Auxerre to the elite after an absence of 10 years this season.

However, poor results -- they have not won since August 27 -- and flicking a 'V-sign' at Clermont supporters as they jeered him when he was sent off at the end of a 2-1 defeat on October 9, signalled the end for him.

Pelissier, whose first match in charge will be Sunday's home clash with fellow strugglers Ajaccio, is the ninth coach of the 1996 French champions since their relegation to the second tier in 2012.