Lechantre turns his back on Senegal job

DAKAR (AFP) - Experienced French coach Pierre Lechantre stepped down as Senegal coach just two weeks after being appointed on Thursday because of a disagreement over money, the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF) announced.

The 62-year-old - who coached Cameroon to the 2000 Olympic gold medal and Africa Cup of Nations title - had been chosen ahead of around 60 candidates including compatriot Bruno Metsu, who guided Senegal to the 2002 World Cup quarter-finals, to revive the national side's fortunes.

He had replaced Amara Traore, who was sacked after a disastrous Cup of Nations finals earlier this year when Senegal exited in the group phase.

However, Lechantre, who was out of contract with Qatari side Al Arabi, decided not to pursue the adventure any further because of a lack of guarantees over the amount of the advance he wanted according to sources within the FSF.

While they had reached agreement on a monthly salary of around 20,000 euros the federation - who rely on the government to pay the salary - could only offer a three month advance on his salary when Lechantre wanted six months up front just in case the qualifying campaign for next year's Africa Cup of Nations went sour.

Lechantre, African coach of the year in 2001, will be replaced in the interim by his assistant Joseph Koto, who must focus on the upcoming match with Liberia on June 2.