Roux given green light to coach Lens
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Article summary
Guy Roux, who took charge of RC Lens on 5 June, is now officially the club's coach after the French Football Federation awarded him a licence following an appeal.
Article body
Guy Roux, who took charge of RC Lens on 5 June, is now officially the coach of the UEFA Intertoto Cup entrants after the French Football Federation (FFF) agreed to award him a licence.
Dispensation
The FFF's Professional Football Board (LFP) initially blocked the appointment of the 68-year-old ex-Auxerre chief as he was above their age limit but after an appeal by Lens, the National Olympic Committee (NOC) has advised the rule could be untenable under French and European law. LFP president Frédéric Thiriez said: "The board has accepted the proposal of the National Olympic Committee suggesting a dispensation for Guy Roux on the grounds of doubts raised about the legality of an age limit imposed on coaches. We followed the NOC because of their doubts on the legality of the ruling and also due to the outstanding professional experience of Guy Roux."
New season
Roux had originally retired from coaching in June 2005 after four decades at Auxerre. He will now be officially in charge when Lens meet FC Chornomorets Odesa or FC Shakhtyor Soligorsk in the third round of the UEFA Intertoto Cup on the final two weekends of July and when their Ligue 1 campaign commences at FC Girondins de Bordeaux on 4 August.
