Favre to leave Servette

Swiss first division club Servette FC have parted company with Lucien Favre after the coach agreed to stand down despite leading the team to fourth place this season.

UEFA Cup success
In two years at the helm, Favre won the Swiss Cup in 2000 before guiding the team to the last 16 of the UEFA Cup in 2001/02, and qualifying for that competition for next season.

Difference in opinion
The club's administrators said both parties had agreed to go their separate ways because of a difference in opinion over the club's sports' strategy. It is not yet known who will succeed Favre, who still had a year to run on his contract

'Mutual agreement'
In a statement, the club said: "Lucien Favre and Servette FC decided, by mutual agreement, to put an end Lucien Favre's function as trainer. The shareholders and the board of directors of Servette FC thank Lucien Favre for the excellent results obtained during these two last seasons."

Dispute with Trotignon
However, Swiss newspapers reported that Favre's troubled relationship with outgoing general manager Patrick Trotignon may also be to blame, with the club still looking to appoint a new president following the resignation of Michel Coencas in April.

Licence withheld
The club are also yet to learn if they can compete in the first division next season, after financial problems initially led to them being denied a licence for 2002/03. A decision will be taken on June 4 regarding the position of Servette and league rivals Lausanne-Sports, FC Lugano, FC Luzern, Neuchâtel Xamax FC and FC Sion.