Poyet-less Bordeaux suffer derby defeat

Paris (AFP) – Bordeaux were beaten 2-1 by Toulouse on Sunday with the loss failing to lift spirits at the club after the suspension of coach Gustavo Poyet.

The Uruguayan’s future at Bordeaux is in serious doubt after he was served with a one week ban for an angry tirade at club bosses over the sale of striker Gaetan Laborde to Ligue 1 rivals Montpellier.

Eric Bedouet, one of Poyet’s assistants, took charge for Sunday’s derby but hopes of a pick-me-up on the pitch were dashed by Leya Iseka and Mathieu Dossevi, who scored for Toulouse in either half.

Bedouet sprang to the defence of Poyet at the post-match press conference, describing the former Chelsea and Tottenham player as “a charming, competent man…who loves the club”.

“It’s never ideal when a manager leaves like that,” he added in explanation of the team’s showing in the derby defeat.

The main topic of conversation in the stands was the identity of any potential successor to Poyet, should he be sacked.

Among the names being bandied about were Thierry Henry, most recently assistant coach to Roberto Martinez with World Cup semi-finalists Belgium, and former Bordeaux boss Laurent Blanc.

Poyet provoked his employers’ ire when lashing out at Laborde’s exit.

“This is my worst day at the club. What the club have done with Gaetan Laborde is a disgrace,” an angry Poyet said on Thursday.

“I told the club not to let him go as long as we haven’t signed someone else.”

Poyet was only appointed by the south-western side in January and he roused them to European qualification with six wins in their final seven games last season.

However, the ex Sunderland, AEK Athens, Betis and Shanghai Shenhua coach has regularly criticised the club for a lack of transfer activity over the summer.