BAYONNE, FRANCE – In a surprising move that underscores the growing appeal of French football’s lower divisions, Alain Pochat, the head coach of Aviron Bayonnais Football, has departed to take the helm at Amiens SC in Ligue 2. The decision, announced Tuesday, comes as Bayonne battles for promotion in National 2, currently sitting third in their pool, and highlights a willingness from the club’s ownership to prioritize a coach’s career aspirations.
The move is particularly noteworthy given the two-tier difference between the leagues. Amiens, a professional club in the second division, sought out Pochat while he was guiding Bayonne in National 2, the fourth tier of French football. “It’s not common for a professional Ligue 2 club to poach its new coach from National 2,” noted Santiago Cucci, the president of Aviron Bayonnais, in comments to Sud Ouest.
Cucci and Lausseni Sangaré, the president of the Aviron Bayonnais association, made the decision to release Pochat from the final two and a half years of his contract. “We were the first to be surprised when Amiens came knocking on our door last Thursday,” Cucci explained. “But after reflection, it seemed logical to release Alain, a son of the club, from his contract with us so he could realize his dream: to coach a professional club.”
The timing of Pochat’s departure is significant, with Bayonne firmly in the promotion race alongside former professional clubs Bordeaux and La Roche-sur-Yon. The club is within striking distance of the top spot, which would guarantee a move up to National (the future Ligue 3). As of Tuesday, March 10, 2026, Bayonne has two games in hand over league-leading Bordeaux and one game in hand over La Roche-sur-Yon, according to standings information available on the French Football Federation website. See current National 2 standings.
Cucci emphasized the club’s values in making the demanding decision. “Alain has blue and white in his heart; he’s the type of coach who can approach home at 3 a.m. After a match and go watch the U15s play early Saturday morning,” he said. “We put the respect for the man first. It’s a moral decision, even if it means losing an essential piece of our project with just a few games left.”
Sangaré echoed this sentiment, stating, “We didn’t have the right to block Alain; we know what we owe him! Last year, all three of our senior teams – both boys’ and the girls’ – were promoted, and this season in National 2 is in line with our ambitions. We are third behind Bordeaux, with two games in hand, and La Roche-sur-Yon, one game in hand – two former professional clubs, it’s exceptional! The club has embraced the challenge, and we have the stated goal of finishing as high as possible, that is, first, which would mean promotion to National!”
Despite Pochat’s departure, Bayonne’s leadership remains optimistic. They have placed their faith in assistant coaches Emmanuel Bafcop and Vincent Mendes to continue the team’s momentum. “We’ve lost five players during the season, who we’ve replaced,” Sangaré noted. “People can count on a close-knit, mature group of players. The atmosphere in the locker room is optimal, and the dynamic will continue, I’m convinced.”
The club’s recent success, with all three senior teams achieving promotion last year, has created a strong sense of belief within the organization. Bayonne’s ambition is clear: to secure promotion to National and continue its upward trajectory. The challenge now will be to maintain that momentum without the guidance of the coach who led them to this point.
Aviron Bayonnais’s willingness to release a key figure like Pochat speaks to a broader trend in French football, where clubs are increasingly recognizing the importance of supporting the professional development of their staff. While the immediate impact of Pochat’s departure remains to be seen, the club’s decision underscores its commitment to its values and its belief in the strength of its overall program.
Amiens SC has yet to officially announce the terms of Pochat’s contract, but the move represents a significant opportunity for the coach to prove himself at the professional level. For Bayonne, the focus now shifts to maintaining its promotion push under the guidance of its assistant coaches, with the hope that Pochat’s departure will ultimately be remembered as a selfless act that allowed a dedicated servant of the club to pursue his dreams.
Bayonne will continue its National 2 campaign on [Next match date and opponent to be confirmed]. Fans can follow updates and results on the French Football Federation website and the club’s official social media channels.
