SPORTS EDGE

Football
France keep Domenech
Afp, Paris

France national team manager Raymond Domenech (L) is seen during a high level meeting with the French Football Federation in Paris on Thursday. Photo: AFPRaymond Domenech has survived the sack with the French Football Federation announcing Thursday that he had kept his job as manager despite France's poor showing at Euro 2008.But strict new conditions are to be imposed on 56-year-old Domenech in a bid to improve the national team's performance ahead of the start of 2010 World Cup qualifying in September.The decision to stick with Domenech - by 18 votes for and one abstention - was announced by FFF president Jean-Pierre Escalettes.He said: "The Executive Committee has maintained the manager in his post to prepare for the 2010 World Cup and redefined the terms of his mission and the conditions of management of the national team."This should be seen as a backing, but under conditions."Domenech's position had been called into question after France were knocked out in the first round at the European championships, returning home with two defeats, one draw, six goals conceded and only one scored.Off the pitch his and his players handling of the intense media interest surrounding his 2006 World Cup finalists was also questioned and described by Escalettes as "sometimes disastrous".Escalettes said from now on each player would have to sign a communications "charter".And a new committee - Club France 2010 - is to be set up to take charge of and keep a check on the progress of the national team leaving Domenech with little or no room for failure.Club France 2010 will be made up of two presidents from the FFF and the French Football League, Doemenech himself and Gerard Houllier (the FFF's technical director) as well as representatives from the professional world."I've asked the DTN (Houllier) to conduct an audit with the manager to find out what changes need to be made to the technical staff."The manager has accepted all these modifications," Escalettes revealed.Domenech took over from Jacques Santini as France manager after Euro 2004 and two years later guided the team to the World Cup final where they lost on penalties to Italy.But there were calls for his sacking after Les Bleus' calamitous run at Euro 2008 with 1998 World Cup winning captain Didier Deschamps' name in the frame to succeed him.Under Domenech's watch France have won 30 of their 54 matches with 17 draws and seven defeats.France's first World Cup qualifier is in Vienna against Euro co-hosts Austria on September 6.