Paris (AFP) – Head coach Jean-Louis Gasset will leave Saint-Etienne after reportedly disagreeing with the club’s board despite qualifying for the Europa League, he announced on Tuesday 

Gasset, 65, had been in charge since December 2017 and had led the outfit to a fourth place finish in Ligue 1 this season.

He secured European football for the first time since 2017 for Les Verts but according to daily newspaper L’Equipe fell out with their directors over the money available to him to sign new players this summer.

“I came here to fulfill a mission and I think along with Ghislain (Printant, assistant coach) we got Saint-Etienne back to where the club belongs,” he said,

Gasset said he’d like to see current right-hand man Printan take over the reigns.

“It’s not my place to choose but he’s got a big advantage, he’s already coached in Ligue 1, he’s experienced, he knows the squad by heart,” he added.

Earlier in his career Gasset’s was a number two to Laurent Blanc with the French national team after he had helped to guide Bordeaux to a league title and the Champions League quarter-finals.

Elsewhere in the French top-flight on Tuesday Stephane Moulin is set to become the longest-serving coach among the top five leagues in Europe after signing a contract extension keeping him with Angers until 2022.

The 51-year-old’s new deal means he will have been at the club for 11 years since June 2011.