Montpellier: Jake signs 'pre-contract'
South African coach Jake White on Monday signed a pre-contract, to extend his stay with Top 14 side Montpellier.
This comes as conciliation talks between the club and former coach Fabien Galthie broke down.
White, South Africa's 2007 World Cup winning coach, was brought in to replace Galthie – who was suspended on December 29, after a string of defeats.
The 52-year-old White and club president Mohed Altrad had indicated they wished to continue working together beyond June, and sources close to the club confirmed Monday that the new deal will take White until 2017.
The news comes as conciliation talks between Galthie and Montpellier before an employment tribunal in the southern city weren't resolved on Monday, lawyers for both sides confirmed.
Galthie is demanding that his salary be paid until the end of his contract, which expires in June 2017 – amounting to €2-million (US$2.28-million).
The case has now been referred before an employment tribunal on 11 January 2016.
And White has already started to recruit for next season – with Australian scrumhalf Nic White, 24, and South African flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis, 25, also signing pre-contracts for two years in mid-January with an option for a third.
White took over after the club's 0-27 defeat at Castres on a six-month consultant's contract with Galthie's initial suspension prolonged.
Montpellier are seventh in the Top 14, one point off sixth spot, the cut-off for the six-team play-offs, with just five games left.
White has won three matches, lost three and drawn one since arriving in southern France.
Agence France-Presse
