Wallemme replaces Fournier at Auxerre

AJ Auxerre have appointed Jean-Guy Wallemme as their new coach after parting ways with Laurent Fournier following Saturday's 2-0 home loss to Évian Thonon Gaillard FC.

Fournier was appointed last summer to replace Jean Fernandez but managed just four wins from 28 games in Ligue 1 and leaves Auxerre five points adrift of safety at the bottom of the table. "We had to change something," explained club president Gérard Bourgoin following Fournier's dismissal on Sunday morning. "I only give us a 15 or 20% chance of staying up."

Auxerre later announced Wallemme as the 47-year-old's successor. Congo coach since last August, the former defender's previous French role was in charge of RC Lens from 2008 to 2010, before which he also coached lower league sides including Paris FC and FC Rouen. The 44-year-old's first game will be next Sunday's trip to face Toulouse FC.