Doom and gloom: Bourgoin Photo: Michael Paler

The three-month power struggle at Bayonne has ended with the resignation of Francis Salagoity on Wednesday evening.

Salagoity stood down after an extraordinary general meeting of shareholders, paving the way for Michel Cacouault to be voted in as his replacement.

Cacouault, 64, is a close friend of Alain Afflelou, the club's main sponsor who had threatened to withdraw his financial support unless Salagoity was unseated. Indeed, it was Cacouault who initially brought Afflelou on board at Bayonne during his 10-year stint as vice-chairman to Salagoity.

Cacouault resigned from that position in December 2009, but now returns to the Basque club with Afflelou promising increased financial backing next season.

This whole unseemly mess was initiated when former France coach Bernard Laporte walked away from the club at the beginning of March citing an unworkable relationship with Salagoity - the man who had brought him on board in an advisory role.

At the time of his walkout Laporte claimed Salagoity was refusing to give up control of the club, telling the Sud-Ouest newspaper: "I don't want to work with someone who changes his mind".

The former French Secretary of State for Sport added: "I came here to help out, but under these conditions I'm no longer interested."

Battle lines were then drawn, but it soon became clear the fans were siding with Afflelou, and against Salagoity. Both men tried to cajole support and gave press interviews underlying their own merits, but it is Afflelou who has ultimately triumphed. Whether he now brings Laporte back on board is uncertain, but he hasn't ruled it out.

Laporte's influence had been crucial in getting the likes of former All Blacks Byron Kelleher and Sione Lauaki to sign pre-contract deals to join Bayonne next season, and it will be intriguing to see if both men still join. Reports in France suggest Kelleher will indeed make the switch from Stade Toulousain - where he has not been offered a new contract - but but cast doubt on Lauaki transfer, with the back-rower believed to prefer staying at Clermont Auvergne now.

Top 14 transfers for 2011/12

Afflelou tried to restore calm after Cacouault was voted in on Wednesday. "The crisis is over, we will now have to close the wounds," he said. "Much time was lost in terms of recruitment, but I remain confident for the next season. results must be commensurate with the budget," he added.

He also stated that the club he had "total confidence" in the club's current coaches - Christian Gajan and Thomas Lièvremont - with Laporte likely to return to his previous role as "presidential advisor".

Elsewhere in France, Bourgoin's desperate season continues to go from bad to worse. The financially stricken club has already been relegated to ProD2 - on results alone after a dismal run - but has now been slapped with not one fine, but two!

Firstly they were hit with a €75,000 fine by ERC, organisers of European club competition, after their home game with Newcastle Falcons in the Amlin Challenge Cup failed to take place. The club was also handed a one-year European ban - suspended for five years - after it was deemed they failed to make sufficient effort for the group game to take place.

The match was due to be held at Bourgoin's Stade Pierre Rajon on Saturday January 22nd, but was postponed to the following day due it being frozen. Newcastle subsequently flew home before the midday inspection had even taken place - earning them a €25,000 fine and a one-year ban, suspended for five years.

Bourgoin - who were awarded a 28-0 walkover - were found guilty of failing to use their best endeavours to (a) protect their pitch from freezing or (b) find an alternative venue.

Bourgoin's second fine was handed down by the LNR following an unseemly mass brawl during their recent 50-6 trouncing at Brive. The Top 14's basement boys were hit with a €5,000 fine, of which €4,000 was suspended, while Brive were fined €10,000, of which €4,000 was suspended. In addition Brive had a previously suspended €5,000 fine called in from an a separate judgement made in September last year.

Top 14 League Table

On the transfer front, it appears that at least one Armitage will be heading to France next season, if not two.

Brothers (and England internationals) Delon and Steffon both currently play for London Irish, but they were brought up in the South of France and have both been linked with summer moves back to the country of their childhood. Full-back Delon recently told SEEN magazine that he has always fancied a return to play club rugby in France, while today the Daily Mail claims that openside flanker Steffon, 25, is being lined up for a summer transfer to Toulon.

Another player considering a French switch is Bath lock Peter Short. The 31-year-old has yet to agree a new deal with the west country club and admitted he is weighing up an offer to join Paris outfit Stade Francais.

Short, who joined Bath from RC Narbonne in 2005, told BBC Radio Bristol that Bath's current drive to reduce the age of their pack was forcing him to consider moving back across the Channel. "That's a possibility," he admitted when asked of his rumoured move to Stade Francais. "Hopefully a decision will be made by the end of the month and an announcement to follow," he added.

One transfer that will definitely be going ahead is that of back-rower Arthur Chollon, 22, who has agreed a two-year deal to join Stade Francais from ProD2 outfit Union Bordeaux-Bègles.

Top 14 transfers for 2011/12

In other news, La Rochelle appear to be readying themselves for a return to ProD2 next season after just one year in Top 14. Recent results have left them as favourites to join Bourgoin in dropping down, and this week they announced they will not be renewing the contracts of coach David Darricarrère and fitness trainer Dominique Schenck. This follows a previous announcement by head coach Serge Milhas that he would retire at the end of this season.

'The Maritimers' have confirmed they will announce their new coaching set-up on April 20th, when they will also unveil their "development project for the coming seasons".

La Rochelle's Argentine prop Andres Bordoy, meanwhile, has picked up a 20-day ban - with 10 suspended - for "insubordination" during the club's Top 14 game with Perpignan on March 26th. He will now be eligible to play again on April 23, the same day international colleague Manuel Carizza could make his playing return for Biarritz after five months out with a broken arm - sustained while playing for the Pumas against Italy in November.