Monaco call time on Banide tenure

The board of directors at AS Monaco FC have made a surprising about-turn and parted company with coach Laurent Banide.

Change of heart
The move comes only three days after Banide, who had stepped up from the role of assistant coach last October to replace Laszlo Bölöni, was offered a contract for next season by the Monaco board. Banide's decision to ask for time to make up his mind appears to have backfired on the 39-year-old, with officials of the principality club now refusing to put pen to paper on the contract which Banide finally agreed to sign. Monaco directors cited a "lack of enthusiasm and commitment" on the part of the coach who led the Stade Louis II team to ninth place in Ligue 1 following an uncomfortable start to the campaign.