Houllier asked for a sabbatical year to manage Villa (Now signed)

[Bad English]

This morning the French 'FA' unanimously rejected Gérard Houllier's request for a 'sabbatical year' from his open-ended contract as French National Technical Director. Members of the executive board were a little miffed at this attempt to leave his job, without actually leaving it.

I've just been watching French telly and they have been scrolling the info that Pontius Pilate asked for a year out to manage the Villa (although he's earning 10 times what he was on at the FFF as DTN).

Link to article in French. Has this not been reported in Ingerlund? Was he just manoeuvring in order to be released, or was he angling to keep his position as DTN so he could bugger off if it didn't work out with the mighty Claret and Blue? 

[eamonn]

Hmm...and he's yet to sign a contract at Villa. Maybe it will be a ''rolling'' deal rather than a 3 year one as has been reported.

[ronshirt]

Thank you, BE. If Rene wants to be at Villa Park for just a year then what's not to like?

[Bad English]

What about the year after?

[PaulWinch again]

I'd be surprised if he only wants to be at Villa for a year.

[junxs]

Sabba..? sabbat..? you what?

[villainjock]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5gYUtBp__b7ZNI6zbS0kEzaLgrgBw   contract signed by the looks of it

[Bad English]

Good news for Houllier. And as the French FA aren't going to keep his job open for him, he'll be able to pledge undying commitment to Villa now.

[ronshirt]

What about the year after?

Get someone better.

[Bad English]

We haven't turned into Real Madrid, have we?

[ronshirt]

No. I was thinking about a job share, He could do it the first year and his wife could do it the second year.

[PaulWinch again]

Ah good it's confirmed on Sky now he has signed a three year deal, happy with that.

[Bad English]

He'll be happy with that too. He was trying to have a year out so that if it didn't work out at Villa, he could go back. This was refused and he has now signed for Villa. He will now have to resign from his job as DTN.

I assume this self-interested fannying about was why he couldn't take the reigns earlier and get Emule  to win us the games against Stoke and Bolton.

[ronshirt]

I do like a happy ending.

[olaftab]

No. I was thinking about a job share, He could do it the first year and his wife could do it the second year.

You mean Rene joins the French Foreign Legion and Edith takes over the  Villa Cafe?