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Leclercq was coach of Les Sang et Or between 1997 and 1999 and won the northerners' only Ligue 1 title in their history, in 1998.

With the club third from bottom in the league and fighting to preserve their top-flight status, the 58-year-old - who played for Lens between 1974 and 1983 - has been drafted in to give assistance to coach Jean-Pierre Papin.

"I have one objective, to bring the passion back to the Lens team and help Jean-Pierre Papin," said Leclercq.

"He doesn't deserve to be bearing the brunt of everything that is happening at the moment."

Lens were dumped out of the Coupe de France when they lost 1-0 at home to Niort in the last 64 on Friday, with the crowd turning on the team by the end of the match.