Auxerre sacked coach Bernard Casoni on Monday after a poor run of results left them in danger of a second relegation in three seasons, and replaced him with Jean-Luc Vannuchi.

Former Marseille and France defender Casoni, who had been appointed in late 2012, paid the price for a run of one win in 11 games which means the Burgundy side are just one point above the Ligue 2 relegation zone.

"We needed to do something because relegation to the (third-tier) National would be a catastrophe for the club," said Auxerre president Guy Cotret after the appointment of 43-year-old Vannuchi, who comes from lower-league side Martigues.

Auxerre won the league and French Cup double in 1996 and were in the Champions League as recently as 2010. They had 32 unbroken seasons in the top flight before being relegated in 2012.