Robin takes over as coach at Troyes

The 54-year-old has been in charge of the club's development of younger players and he will bring along with him three assistants in Michel Padovani, Mohamed Bradja and Olivier Tingry.

Furlan led the side from the southern Champagne country to the second division title last season, but they have failed to win a game in France's top flight this season.

A 3-0 home loss to Toulouse last Wednesday, which left Troyes 13 points from safety, proved to be the tipping point and the club announced that 58-year-old Furlan had agreed to leave by mutual consent.

Robin is a former player with Servette Geneva, Lille and Lyon before switching to coaching in 1993. He has been in charge of the development programme and the reserve team at Troyes for the last two years.

"We don't believe in miracles. It would be some achievement if he managed to save our team from relegation this year," said club communications official Carlos Cassis.

"His mission will be to win our first match of the season and then just to take it a match at a time to avoid being ridiculised."

Furlan was the second French top flight manager to lose his job this season after Herve Renard at Lille. Renard was replaced by Frédéric Antonetti.