Olivier Pantaloni has voiced pessimism over a new deal at Lorient as the club prepares for integration into Black Knight Football Club’s network, with a study of the French market under way, according to L’Équipe.
Appointed in June 2024 and contracted until season’s end, Pantaloni said he is ready to consider proposals for next season. He has had no response to a June request to discuss an extension, despite promotion back to the elite.
With time passing, the silence increasingly resembles an indirect refusal, unless it relates to ongoing manoeuvres at the club. Last month Lorient’s short-term inclusion in the Black Knight Football Club group was announced, whose portfolio includes Bournemouth, FC Auckland, Moreirense and shares in Hibernian FC.
Although the deal is not yet finalised, BKFC has been working with a specialist firm to map French football talent across roles. The routine exercise, used before in Portugal and England, does not signal imminent change.
Headhunters have contacted several sporting directors, including David Friio, and sounded out Luis de Sousa of Pau, while Grégory Lorenzi of Brest and Bruno Carotti of Montpellier are not interested. The name of Vincent Ponsot, director general of OL Lyonnes, has also circulated.
One approached profile believes recruitment is imminent. Inside the club, that is played down, with suggestions it is easier to engage candidates by stressing the short term. For now, a more concrete scenario would be promoting sporting director Laurent Koscielny to director of football at FCL.
