Nantes’ move for Habib Beye has collapsed

Nantes’ search for a new manager is expected to drag on longer than anticipated as their attempt to replace Antoine Kombouaré with Habib Beye has collapsed, according to reports from Presse-Océan and L’Equipe. Following their failure to tempt Sergio Conceição with a second tenure as head of Les Canaris, Nantes ramped up talks with the former Marseille and Newcastle right-back. Beye is a free agent after leading Red Star to a Ligue 2 promotion this year.

However, a round of talks between the former Senegal international and the Ligue 1 club proved fruitless, despite being close to signing an agreement that would have seen Beye take over until the end of the Ligue 1 season. Presse-Océan understands that Beye’s coaching staff was the main sticking point. Former France and Real Madrid fitness coach Grégory Dupont rejected joining Nantes. Beye also eyed a move for his former Red Star goalkeeping coach Faouzi Amzal, but the latter remains tied with the Ligue 2 side.

The other names proposed by Beye were far from convincing the Nantes board, which then pulled the plug. Barring any change of heart, Beye won’t join Nantes after that. L’Equipe goes as far as saying that Les Canaris have no plan C. As it stands, Kombouaré is set to remain on the touchline for Nantes’ Coupe de France opener against fifth-tier side Drancy on Saturday.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval