Le Havre is facing a major sporting and organisational crisis after suffering a heavy 5-1 home defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Friday. The Normandy club, last in Ligue 1 with two points, announced on Saturday that it had separated from coach Didier Digard and accepted the resignation of president Jean-Michel Roussier.
The club said the board of its American owner, Blue Crow Sports Group, had accepted the principle of Roussier’s resignation. His departure is due to be formally confirmed at the next board meeting on 5 November.
Le Havre also notified Digard that he had been placed on precautionary suspension as part of an ongoing procedure, pending further decisions. The 40-year-old former HAC player had taken charge in 2024 and extended his contract by one season in June. Jaïr Karam, the club’s academy director, will take over as interim coach from Monday.
The defeat to PSG was Le Havre’s fifth consecutive league loss. After the match, Digard criticised what he described as professional errors by his players, who have conceded 12 goals across their last three matches. The team’s only points this season have come from two draws in its opening nine league games.
Roussier, 71, had been president since June 2022. During his tenure, Le Havre returned to the top flight in 2023 and secured three successive Ligue 1 survivals. According to a source close to the club cited by Agence France-Presse, he was not aligned with the shareholders’ decision to part ways with Digard.
The club has also undergone significant changes in its sporting structure. Sporting director Mathieu Bodmer left during the summer and was replaced by Demba Ba, while several established players, including Loïc Nego, Gautier Lloris, Mory Diaw and Issa Soumaré, also departed.
Until a new chief executive is appointed, general director Yacine Alaoui will oversee all of the club’s activities. Le Havre are already five points behind Strasbourg, who occupy the relegation play-off place, and face two important matches against fellow relegation contenders in November: a home game against Lorient on 8 November and an away fixture at Troyes on 20 November.
Sources: Le Monde Sport.