Lille manager Marcelo Bielsa has been summoned to a meeting with club officials on Wednesday as they prepare to sack him after just six months in charge.
Bielsa was suspended by the club on Thursday after reportedly making an unauthorised trip to Chile to visit former assistant Luis Bonini, who is battling stomach cancer.
He appointed a four-man coaching team to take charge of Saturday’s trip to Montpellier as Lille were beaten 3-0 in his absence.
Marcelo Bielsa is set to be axed by Lille after a disastrous start to the Ligue 1 campaign
Lille have endured a disastrous start to the season with just three wins from 14 matches leaving them second-bottom of the table.
Bielsa was appointed as manager in the summer as Lille’s new owner Gerard Lopez bid to take the club back into the Champions League.
The Argentine was backed in the summer transfer window, splashing out £58million on 10 new arrivals but he has struggled for results on the pitch.
Bielsa has also upset members of the club’s hierarchy after banishing a number of senior players into the reserves instantly upon arriving including a number of fan facvourites.
Eric Bautheac, who moved on to Australian side Brisbane Roar, told L’Equipe that Bielsa decided players’ futures within 45 seconds of arriving for first team training.
Lille players trudge off following the 3-0 loss to Montpellier which left them second-bottom
Long-time goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama and midfielder Rio Mavuba, who captained Lille’s double-winning side of 2010-11, were also informed they were not in his plans.
Saturday’s loss to Montpellier was their second consecutive 3-0 defeat after they were thrashed at Amiens the previous week.
Bielsa has forged a reputation as a maverick by utilising unconventional coaching methods and formations in his previous managerial roles.
He coached Argentina for six years between 1998-2004, winning a gold medal at the 2004 Olympic games before moving on to Chile, Athletic Bilbao and Marseille.
Bielsa sensationally lasted just two days at Serie A side Lazio before leaving his position, his most recent job before Lille.