Bordeaux coach Gus Poyet is reportedly set to be sacked after threatening to quit over the sale of striker Gaetan Laborde.
Laborde joined Montpellier on Thursday and, although Poyet used the 24-year-old sparingly last season, his departure sparked a furious response.
“I’m not happy today. It’s my worst day at the club,” the coach told reporters after his side’s Europa League victory over Mariupol on Thursday.
“It’s shameful what the club has done to us with Gaetan Laborde. I think we have to stop there. I told the club he could not leave until another player had been brought in. They didn’t take care of that and let Laborde leave.
“We got to the hotel at 11.45 p.m. and Laborde wasn’t there. We called him and he was in Montpellier. No one had told me anything about it. I’m going to talk to my agent tomorrow [Friday] and I’ll take a decision after that.
“It’s shameful that they have done that against me, against the players, against the fans. I cannot accept that. I need explanations from the owners and the president.
“When they will have explained that to me, we’ll see if I continue.”
When the Bordeaux press officer tried to end his news conference, Poyet said: “No, no, I stop when I want, not when you want. I want public explanations and that they tell you the truth.
“I want respect and professionalism, nothing more. And if there isn’t any, it’s finished.”
L’Equipe reported that Poyet, who took charge in January, had been suspended. It said he met Bordeaux president Stephane Martin at the club’s training ground on Friday and departed 10 minutes later.
Martin announced news of his suspension to the players, some of whom then refused to take part in a training session overseen by Eric Bedouet, the fitness coach, who is likely to be put in interim charge.
With club owner M6 hoping to sell its controlling stake and involved in talks with potential buyers, Poyet has reportedly been concerned about a lack of focus on his squad.
L’Equipe reported Martin as saying Poyet “had been told about Laborde’s departure on Wednesday afternoon,” and adding of his coach’s future: “If he has taken a decision on his own, we’ll see.”
And Laborde’s agent, Christophe Hutteau, told the paper that Poyet had contradicted himself.
“It’s not politically incorrect to say that he’s capable of saying one thing and then completely the opposite thing depending on the day,” he said.
“It’s so ridiculous I must give myself some time before reacting because my words might go too far.
“I’ll do that on Friday and you’ll understand that Gaetan’s departure cannot have been a surprise because he [Poyet] started the ball rolling. Why? Perhaps to get players who are close to his friends brought in.”