Frédéric Vergnoux, the French coach to his wife Alena Popchanka (FRA) and Kirsty Balfour, Kris Gilchrist and Gregor Tait (GBR), among others in Edinburgh, is in the recruiting sights of Australia and Lagardère Paris Racing, according to a report by Jean-Baptiste Renet in L'Équipe today.

Vergnoux is still only 34 but long ago set off on a voyage of discovery around the world of elite coaching to learn the art that his swimmers are now benefitting from. Britain would like to keep him until at least London 2012. Money should not be a problem but the Frenchman is motivated by other things, the drive behind his growing knowledge and work ethic an asset that would be valuable to any programme in the world.

Lagardère Paris Racing is planning for the years beyond 2012, by which time, Vergnoux would still be a young man in his 30s. After a stint in the United States and a short apprenticeship with the likes of Paul bergen, one of those who coached Tracy Caulkins, arguably the most versatile female swimmer in history, Vergnoux returned home to coach at Clichy, after which he accepted a job in Bill Sweetenham's Britain. Sweetenham spoke very highly of Vergnoux.

No surprise to hear then that the Australian swim community, with Sweetenham back in its midst, also prizes the potential of the Frenchman.