Beaten Heineken Cup semi-finalists Perpignan have announced that former Biarritz and Stade Francais coach Jacques Delmas will succeed Jacques Brunel as head coach of Perpignan.
Brunel, who led his side to the last-four of this year's Heineken Cup will leave the club at the end of the season to take charge of Italy after this summer's world cup.
Delmas, who led Biarritz to the 2006 Heineken Cup final, will take over this summer and will be assisted by the current backroom staff that including forwards coach Bernard Goutta and backs coach Christophe Manas.
Perpignan have had a successful run in Europe this year but have not reached the top six in the Top 14 domestically and club president Paul Goze has targeted an improvement for next season.
"The objective is imperatively to finish in the top six of the championship," he said.
"I told the players on Tuesday since the agreement had been reached and it was a open secret.
"This week there is still one match left at Aimé-Giral, on Saturday against Castres, and it was the most basic politeness towards Jacques Brunel who is still our manager."