Remi Garde is not only the favorite to be named new manager of Aston Villa, but it sounds like the club is well into the finer details of a potential appointment of the 49-year-old Frenchman.
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Just one problem: Garde, who most recently managed Ligue 1 side Lyon (his only first-team managerial role to date), won’t be allowed to poach a pair of top-ranking assistant coaches, Bruno Genesio and Gerald Baticle, should he make his move to the Premier League at this time.
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas, on the club’s assistants — quotes from the Guardian:
One would think that if Garde is Villa’s no. 1 choice for the job, that title isn’t wholly (or, at all) based upon his assistant coaching staff, instead having more to do with his own abilities as the head man in charge. Therefore, the deal probably still gets done, unless Garde completely refuses to manage without his deputy coaches alongside.
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That, of course, would be highly unadvisable from Garde, who may or may not get another opportunity to take over a Premier League side like Villa again anytime soon. If Garde can keep Villa from being relegated (they’re currently bottom of the PL, four points away from safety, with four from 10 games), surely a deal can be worked out in the summer to allow Genesio and Baticle to move during the closed season.