FRENCH flop Lilian Laslanes has left Sunderland to join Cologne on six months loan with a view to a cut-price permanent deal.

Wearside boss Peter Reid paid £3.6m in the summer for the big striker - capped seven times by France - as a replacement for 35-year-old Republic of Ireland international Niall Quinn, but the move never paid off.

Laslandes scored only one goal for Sunderland, in the 4-2 Worthington Cup defeat at Sheffield Wednesday in September, and never got off the mark in the Premiership.

The signing of Laslandes from Bordeaux proved something of an embarrassment for Reid, who expected the centre-forward to be able to make the necessary adjustment to English football.

But the 30-year-old failed to make the grade after being eased into the faster pace of the Premier League and never looked happy as the foil for goal-ace Kevin Phillips.

After starting the opening two games against Ipswich Town and Fulham, Laslandes was twice replaced by Quinn - who quickly regained his place as the first-choice partner for Phillips.

Laslandes only started three more matches - his goal at Hillsborough was after he came on as substitute - and his last was in the goalless home draw against Chelsea, when again he made way for substitute Quinn.

Laslandes, who played the full 90 minutes only once for Sunderland in the 2-2 home game against Charlton made eight appearances as substitute, but he recently suffered the ignominy of being second-choice to former Irish Sea Ferries baggage handler Kevin Kyle, signed on a free.

Reid has decided to cut his losses on Laslandes and is hoping that his new German employers will agree to a fee in the region of £2.5m, as several French clubs, including Nates, Montpelier and Lens expressed an interest.

Cologne general manager Hannes Linssen said: ''He will have a short term and immediate impact, otherwise we wouldn't have signed him.

''After all, he's a French international and has much international experience.''

Laslandes, who has the option of a three-year deal at Cologne, will join his new teammates today for a week-long training camp in Marbella.

Cologne are fourth bottom of the Bundesliga and resume their season following the winter break against 1860 Munich on January 26.

* Bill Dearden was yesterday appointed the new manager of Second Division Notts County a day after quitting Mansfield.

Dearden takes over from Gary Brazil, who will remain at Meadow Lane as coach and will also take over as director of youth operations.

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