New Dijon coach David Linarès is confident he has what it takes to turn around the fortunes of the bottom club in Ligue 1 Uber Eats.
Appointed on Thursday until June 2023 after one match in temporary charge - a 1-1 draw with Metz - Linarès said: "During the match I realised I was in the right place and that this job is made for me. All the players will be important and we need to get the best out of the whole squad, as we have quality players. I have received a lot of messages of support."
President Olivier Delcourt admitted to the press that he'd spoken to former Nîmes boss Bernard Blaquart who "didn't want to come for a variety of reasons", and had also met Franck Passi: "He corresponded to the profile we were looking for, but he's faithful to Laurent Blanc, and wants to work with him. He would have left had Blanc found a job."
Linarès is currently taking his BEPF, the qualification needed to be coach of a professional side, and Delcourt commented: "We'll see with his instructors whether we can come to an arrangement as David has to head off for several days every month for training courses."
Balmont to join caching team?
Linarès, the former Dijon captain, later revealed to Téléfoot that he was interested in recruiting Florent Balmont, who retired as a Dijon player at the end of last season, to his coaching staff: "He corresponds to the values of the club, I have no doubt about that. He's in the process of doing his badges, and is in the Lyon region. I say to him ' see you very soon'."
Photo courtesy of DFCO
