Former France coach and French Secretary of State for Sport Bernard Laporte has left Bayonne amidst a power struggle.
Just two months after arriving at the Basque club as member of the board, Laporte has quit his post along with the club's main sponsor, Alain Afflelou, who owns a chain of optometrist agencies and is a household name in France.
The duo have pointed a finger at club president Francis Salagoïty, accusing him of refusing to give up the reins of power at the ambitious Top 14 club.
Former Stade Français boss Laporte had been brought on board to oversee a number of departments at the club, most significantly recruitment.
His departure has now left a cloud of doubt over the arrival of former All Blacks Byron Kelleher and Sione Lauaki next season.
"I don't want to work with someone who changes his mind all the time," Laporte told the Sud-Ouest newspaper
"I came here to help out, but under these conditions I'm no longer interested."
Kelleher meanwhile has been causing a stir behind the scenes in New Zealand according to reports.
According to the New Zealand Herald the veteran scrum-half has been sending messages to former team-mates including Neemia Tialata and Sitiveni Sivivatu, trying to convince them to join him in France.
