Petit pleads to leave Monaco

Stand-in AS Monaco FC coach Jean Petit has achieved some excellent results but does not want the job on a permanent basis.

Kapo strike
Despite being without a raft of regular players for the weekend game at last season's Ligue 1 runners-up LOSC Lille Métropole, Olivier Kapo scored the only goal of the match for the Riviera side after 60 minutes to continue Petit's run of good form.

Impressive run
Since taking charge following the departure of Didier Deschamps, Petit has led Monaco to three wins and a draw, lifting them to eleventh place in Ligue 1. However, Deschamps' old assistant is adamant that he does not want the job on a permanent basis.

'I won't carry on'
"I won't carry on," said Petit who was also in charge as Monaco reached the group stage of the UEFA Cup as they completed a 5-1 aggregate win against Willem II last Thursday. "A new man is needed. I just carried on in the same way that Didier and I started the season."

Threadbare squad
After the Willem II game, Petit was left with a threadbare side. French international right-back Patrice Evra was ruled out for a week at least on rib injury, and midfield player Diego Pérez was also signed off for a fortnight after pulling a hamstring.

Injured stars
Captain Gaël Givet had not travelled to the game in Netherlands as he was nursing a thigh injury which also forced him to withdraw from the French national team squad for their forthcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers, while Italian goalkeeper Flavio Roma (back) and Czech midfield player Jaroslav Plašil (leg) remained absent with long-term injuries.

Permanent decision
Monaco are expected to name a new coach in the next few days; Javier Irureta, Silvio Guidolin, Ramon Diaz, Jean-Luc Ettori and Paul Le Guen are among the favourites for the job. President Michel Pastor has said that the decision will be made by Wednesday at the latest.