What Irankunda should expect as Sporting change manager and why the timing has been slammed as 'terrible for football'

Nestory Irankunda has finally established himself in Sporting CP's starting XI but just as the Socceroos star finds his feet in Portugal, a new challenge is looming. That challenge comes from the dugout,with Lyon head coach Paulo Fonseca expected to replace Rui Borges, potentially bringing a different set of tactical demands for the Australian winger.

Irankunda made his sixth consecutive start in Saturday's 2-0 win over Casa Pia, playing 62 minutes before Portuguese giants Sporting opened negotiations to terminate Borges' contract as they sit third and nine points off the pace. While Fonseca's appointment is yet to be confirmed, with B-team coach Tiago Fernandes at the helm on an interim basis for Wednesday's UEFA Champions League clash against Shakhtar Donetsk, the ex-AC Milan head coach has reportedly reached an agreement to take over.

This is a man who previously coached Sporting's fierce rivals Porto in 2013-14. The imminent switch has certainly not pleased everyone, including former France star Christophe Dugarry who told RMC Sport's Rothen s'enflamme podcast: "It's terrible for football in general and it disgusts me.

For a long time we said that players only thought about money, now it's the coaches. The team was built for you and you're worried about those extra eight months?

You have young players who need you to help them reach their full potential. It's someone who brings maturity to the group, who helps the players evolve and who is happy to see them every day in training.

A coach is a leader, someone important in a career and at a club. We'll have to get used to it, but it's terrible for football and for Lyon fans.

It's not the right attitude from Fonseca, he could have stayed. I don't believe his crocodile tears at all, because if it hurt you that much, you would have stayed.

For Irankunda, it would represent his eighth coach, including caretakers, since joining EFL Championship outfit Watford in June last year. It really is an incredible number in such a short space of time.

And the timing, through the lens of Irankunda, is significant. Borges is the man who has helped Irankunda transition from life in England's second tier to the spotlight at a Portuguese powerhouse."