Report: Deschamps resigns! Saturday 26 May, 2007
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Sky TG24 claims that Juventus Coach Didier Deschamps has resigned, although he will be on the bench against Mantova.
The tactician’s future at the club has been up in the air for several weeks, as different members of the Board of Directors gave opposing comments on whether he was the right man for the job.
Deschamps took the Bianconeri to promotion despite a nine-point penalty, but has reportedly clashed with director of sport Alessio Secco, disagreeing over transfer policy.
A meeting with general manager Jean Claude Blanc seems to have tipped the situation over the edge and his resignation was verbally accepted, according to Sky TG24.
So far there is no official confirmation, but the reports claim that they failed to agree over extending his contract, which runs until June 2008.
With what was essentially a season to deliver or be fired, Deschamps chose not to enter into a campaign with such uncertainty hanging over his head.
Spanish newspaper reports this week suggested that Fabio Capello was preparing a return to the Juventus bench, but considering the brusque manner in which he left after the Calciopoli scandal broke and the bad blood with the fans and captain Alessandro Del Piero, this seems highly unlikely.
World Cup winning Italy boss Marcello Lippi is another potential candidate, although French newspaper 'L’Equipe’ insists he is in fact challenging Deschamps for the role of Coach at Lyon following Gerard Houllier’s resignation.
channel4