Jack Isaac and Serge Milhas have been removed as the Biarritz Olympique coaches just four days after their shock Heineken Cup Pool 3 defeat to Connacht Rugby.
Laurent Rodriguez and Mathieu Rourre have been placed in temporary charge by Biarritz president Serge Blanco ahead of the return tie against Connacht Rugby at Stade Aguilera on Friday night.
The club beat Toulon in last season's Amlin Challenge Cup final to clinch their place in this season's Heineken Cup but Blanco had been critical of the team's recent performances.
The 22-14 defeat to Connacht Rugby at the Sportsground in Galway was the last straw for Blanco, whose team are now nine points behind group leaders Harlequins.
Biarritz beat Italian newcomers Zebre 38-17 in Round 2 in October but were well beaten 40-13 by Harlequins in the season's opener.
The defeat by Connacht Rugby means the Irish club are now three points ahead of a team who have contested two of the last seven Heineken Cup finals, in 2006 and 2010.
Biarritz Olympique are in seventh place in the Top 14 with six wins from their 12 matches.
