By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Five days after the lost cup quarterfinal to Panathinaikos, Olympiacos still is in turmoil. The Greeks are searching for a new coach and as local newspaper “Dernieres Nouvelles D’Alsace” reported there was an offer made to Vincent Collet, coach of Strasbourg and of the French national team.
In the report of “DNA” there’s a quote of the club’s president Martial Bellon about his denial, leaving open a small window: “My response was clear, firm and definitive: It was a no. Vincent can’t leave, unless a very, very, very big buy out is paid”. According to Eurohoops sources, the current contract of coach Collet, which ends with the club this summer, doesn’t include a buy out. The Reds, also, tried to get from Bellon unsuccessfully last year center Alexis Ajinca who ended up signing with the New Orleans Pelicans.
Sources close to the situation confirm that not only the team, but also Collet himself denied the offer made by Olympiacos, at least at this point. So unless something dramatic happens, the former Euroleague champions are expected to start their season in Euroleague with interim coach Milan Tomic on their bench. Ιn the meantime a fine worth 50% of their monthly salary was imposed by the management of the team to the players and coaches of Olympiacos for losing to Panathinaikos in the cup game.
UPDATE: As “DNS” reported on the 15 of October, Olympiacos made an other run for the French coach, even offered to find his replacement for Strasbourg, but the French team once more denied the offer. As for Collet, he is quoted saying: “I was flattered they wanted me, but for me this is now finished”.