Mara had a thrilling second half to the 21/22 Ligue 1 season, notably scoring five goals in the last seven games of the season. An excellent string of form, which saw him get his first call-ups with the France under-21 squad, scoring one goal. He then went on to join the Saints in a transfer worth €11.5M, playing 30 games in his first season with the team and scoring two goals, both of which came against Manchester City.

Lille, Marseille and several Bundesliga clubs all keeping an eye on Mara

Off of that promising first season, many expected the striker to finally find his rhythm in England, especially with Southampton’s relegation to the Championship. However, that hasn’t been the case, as Mara has struggled to find game time, not starting a single game this season.

It would therefore arrange both parties to find a loan move this winter, especially with Mara not lacking in the suitor department. Indeed, Lille have reportedly enquired about the Frenchman, with Marseille and some Bundesliga sides also among interested clubs. The 21-year-old could serve as an excellent substitute option for Jonathan David (23) at LOSC, who don’t currently have another pure striker in their squad.

Following a failed move to Werder Bremen last winter, this window could finally be the time that Mara finds some proper game time elsewhere.

GFFN | Alfred Lalande

The French government has acted quickly after an FC Nantes fan was killed in an attack before the game against OGC Nice, with a travel ban imposed on games categorised as high-risk fixtures until the 18th of December. This has led to eight games this weekend seeing restrictions implemented on away supporters. 

The ANS in a statement transcribed by RMC Sport expressed its aim to challenge some of those restricted fixtures, declaring that it will “refer the matter to the Council of State concerning the ministerial and prefectural decrees applicable to matches between FC Saint-Méziery and AJ Auxerre, between Montpellier and Lens, between Nice and Reims, and between Angoulême and Bordeaux.”

Bans on Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 fans deemed ‘very questionable’

The organisation hopes that the Council of State will suspend the bans on those four fixtures stating that the restrictions imposed on these games were “very grossly illegal and unjustifiable” continuing “they are likely, by their late implementation, to create more risks than they are supposed to prevent.”

However, the ANS also wanted to stress that this legal challenge was in no way “intended to minimise the seriousness of last Saturday’s tragedy. No one can doubt the immense sadness which strikes the French stadiums. No one can doubt our sense of responsibility either.”

For the other four fixtures, between Paris Saint-Germain-FC Nantes, AS Saint-Étienne-Nîmes Olympique, FC Lorient-Olympique de Marseille, and Olympique Lyonnais-Toulouse FC, the association conceded that “these orders are very questionable. But they will attract very large crowds. It is too late to shake up their organisation.”

GFFN | Nick Hartland

Troyes, who after last season’s relegation to the second division currently sit in the relegation zone, are without a manager since parting ways with Patrick Kisnorbo last month. The Australian, who replaced Bruno Irles in November 2022, had been under pressure for some time having only won three of his 40 games in charge of Les Aubistes. 

Like Kisnorbo, Guion also lost his job this season after being sacked by Bordeaux in October. He has been in discussions with City Football Group in recent days and whilst some details still need to be rectified, Guion looks likely to take the role at the Stade de l’Aube. However, his arrival will not be confirmed before Saturday’s trip to face Bordeaux. It will instead be Alou Diarra, the manager of ESTCA’s reserve team, who will take control of the team.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Upon his retirement from professional football, Koscielny took up a coaching role within the backroom staff at Bordeaux. More recently, he was appointed as coach in Regis Le Bris’ backroom at Lorient. The former centre-back was initially appointed as a youth coach. When asked about why he decided to take the opportunity to coach in Brittany, he said: “My wife and I were wondering about the rest of our lives in Bordeaux, it was complicated to find any opportunities. Brittany was our number one choice to leave. I called Loic Férylle (the president of Lorient) and explained my project to him, and then the doors were open.”

The former French international was lucky to be managed by some top coaches during his playing career, he was asked if any coaches had an impact on his style. Koscielny replied: “Daniel Sanchez at Tours, Christian Gourcouff at Lorient, Arsène Wenger and Unai Emery at Arsenal, and Laurent Blanc and Didier Deschamps with France. They all influenced me. Even when it was more complicated, there were always discussions”. 

The Lorient coach also added he had been in contact with Arséne Wenger recently, saying “I spoke with Arséne on the phone recently… I know when I meet Arsène (Wenger) about managing a club, he will share his experiences of all those years in London.”

Koscielny doesn’t yet have all of the coaching badges to take full charge of a men’s professional team. L’Équipe asked him about his plans to complete his badges to which he responded: “You have to give me some time. I’m not going to take the place of Régis Le Bris! I’ve only been in Brittany for three months and we will see my career evolve step by step”.

GFFN | Liam Wraith

Guion was dismissed following after the club’s latest defeat against Stade Lavallois. It left Bordeaux in 13th place and nine points off the podium. The club have won just three of their first 10 games, having narrowly missed out on promotion last campaign. As reported by L’Équipe on Saturday, the search for Guion’s successor began immediately. Óscar García, Karel Geraerts, Philippe Montanier and Julien Stéphan were seemingly the leading contenders, however, Riera pipped them to the position.

Whilst Riera was only officially confirmed as Bordeaux manager on Thursday, the former Liverpool winger, who also played with Les Girondins between 2003-05, took charge of his first training session on Wednesday. The Ligue 2 club have confirmed that Riera is tied with the club until June 2025. He is accompanied by two assistants: Pablo Remon Arteta and Julien Gimenez. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Guion was dismissed on Saturday after the club’s latest defeat. It left Bordeaux in 13th place and nine points off the podium. The club have won just three of their first 10 games, having narrowly missed out on promotion last campaign. As reported by L’Équipe on Saturday, the search for Guion’s successor began immediately. Óscar García, Karel Geraerts, Philippe Montanier and Julien Stéphan were seemingly the leading contenders, however, Riera pipped them to the position.

Whilst Bordeaux are yet to officially name David Guion’s successor, Riera took charge of his first training session as the club’s new manager on Wednesday. The former Liverpool winger played at Bordeaux between 2003-05 and now makes his return to the club. 

As expected, Riera has signed a deal with Bordeaux running until June 2025, with the option for a further year. He addressed his new squad on Wednesday in what has been described as an “optimistic” speech. The composition of Riera’s backroom staff is not yet known, however, the Spaniard has arrived with two assistants: Pablo Ramon Arteta and Julien Gimenez. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Guion was dismissed on Saturday after the club’s latest defeat. It left Bordeaux in 13th place and nine points off the podium. The club have won just three of their first 10 games, having narrowly missed out on promotion last campaign. As reported by L’Équipe on Saturday, the search for Guion’s successor began immediately. Óscar García, Karel Geraerts, Philippe Montanier and Julien Stéphan were seemingly the leading contenders, however, it looks like Riera is now the club’s priority. 

The former Liverpool winger also played at Bordeaux between 2003-05 and began his managerial career with Galatasaray. He was an assistant at the Turkish club for one-and-a-half years, before then leading NK Olimpija to the Slovenian title and the domestic cup. He is currently the manager of Slovenian side NK Celje, and his side are top of the division. 

According to L’Équipe, Riera has already agreed a one-and-a-half-year deal with Bordeaux, and should he arrive at the Ligue 2 club, he would bring two assistants. L’Équipe’s Emery Taisne adds that the deal to bring Riera to Bordeaux is almost concluded and that the Spaniard should arrive in the next 48 hours. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

On the back of a home defeat against in-form leaders Laval, Bordeaux have decided to dismiss David Guion. The Gironde side are thirteenth in the league, logging only three wins in ten games played since the start of the campaign. Bordeaux were on a four-game winless streak.

L’Equipe and Sud-Ouest have reported this Monday morning that former Bordeaux and Liverpool player Albert Riera is touted as the priority to take over from Guion. The Ligue 2 side is in negotiations with Riera’s club, Slovenian league leaders NK Celje, to release him from his contract. Celje confirmed on X (formerly Twitter) that “negotiations for compensation are underway.“

Riera hung up his boots in 2018. He started in coaching career as an assistant coach at Galatasaray. He then led Olimpija Ljubljana to a league and cup double last season in Slovenia. The Spaniard has reportedly agreed to link up with Bordeaux over a contract running until 2025.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval

Guion’s dismissal as Bordeaux manager was confirmed after the club’s 1-0 defeat against Stade Lavallois on Saturday. The result leaves Les Girondins 13th in Ligue 2, but they could slip further down the table before the end of the game week. The club have won just three of their first 10 games, having narrowly missed out on promotion last campaign. 

The search for Guion’s successor is already underway, according to L’Équipe. A shortlist has even been established. Former Stade de Reims manager García, former Union Saint-Gilloise manager Geraerts, former Toulouse FC manager Montanier and former RC Strasbourg Alsace manager Stéphan all feature. None of the aforementioned managers are currently under contract. L’Équipe report that there is a fifth name on Bordeaux’s shortlist, however, the identity of the candidate is not yet known. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Guion arrived at Bordeaux in February 2022 but has overseen a troubled start to the current campaign. Bordeaux are currently sit 13th in Ligue 2 but could sink further down the table this weekend. His side had won only three games in the opening 10 game weeks, after having narrowly missed out on promotion back to Ligue 1 last season. Bordeaux are currently eight points away from the podium in France’s second division. 

During Guion’s final game in charge of Les Girondins, fans made their displeasure known, unfurling banners calling for his resignation. The press release, confirming Guion’s dismissal, came in the wake of Saturday’s defeat to Laval. The search for his successor is already underway, according to L’Équipe, with four key names reportedly being considered for the post. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle