Le Havre have placed head coach Didier Digard on precautionary suspension and accepted the resignation of chairman and club president Jean-Michel Roussier in principle after a 1-5 home loss to Paris Saint-Germain.
The French club’s American owners, Blue Crow Sports Group, announced both decisions in an official statement on Saturday, 31 October. Le Havre stated that Digard had been notified of his suspension as part of an ongoing procedure, with further decisions still to follow. The club did not confirm that his contract has been terminated.
Youth academy director Jaïr Karam has been named interim head coach. He is scheduled to take charge of the first team when training resumes on Monday, 2 November.
Heavy loss to PSG extends winless start
The leadership changes came a day after PSG beat Le Havre 1-5 at the Stade Océane on Friday, 30 October. Forward Josh Maja gave the hosts an early lead in the 18th minute, but the visitors replied through a hat-trick from Achraf Hakimi alongside goals from Mika Godts and Senny Mayulu.
That defeat was Le Havre’s fifth straight loss in Ligue 1. They sit bottom of the table with two points and no wins from their opening nine league matches, having conceded 12 goals across their last three games. After the loss to PSG, Digard criticised what he described as professional errors from his players, though the club has not said those comments were a reason for his suspension.
Digard, 40, came through Le Havre’s academy as a player and returned as head coach in 2024. He kept the team in the French top flight during his first two seasons in charge and signed a one-year contract extension in June 2026, making his suspension a rapid reversal after the club recently backed him.
Roussier’s exit and reported boardroom disagreement
Blue Crow Sports Group also confirmed it has accepted the principle of Roussier’s resignation as club president. His departure is set to be presented and formally approved at a Le Havre board meeting on Thursday, 5 November.
While the club thanked Roussier for his work and commitment, its official statement gave no reason for his exit. However, an AFP report published by TV5MONDE and 20 Minutes cited a source close to the club who indicated that Roussier did not agree with the shareholders’ decision to part ways with Digard. Neither Le Havre nor Blue Crow Sports Group has publicly confirmed that a disagreement over the club’s sporting direction led to his resignation.
Roussier became president in June 2022. During his tenure, Le Havre won promotion to Ligue 1 in 2023 and kept their place in the top division over the following seasons.
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Interim structure and upcoming fixtures
While the club prepares to appoint a new president-director general, managing director Yacine Alaoui will oversee all sporting and administrative operations under the direct responsibility of the board. The latest changes follow an off-season of upheaval at the club, during which former Senegal international Demba Ba replaced Mathieu Bodmer as sporting director and several established players left the squad.
Le Havre have not yet announced the final outcome of the procedure involving Digard or named a permanent replacement. For now, Karam will prepare the team to host Lorient before playing away at Troyes as the board prepares to formally address Roussier’s resignation on 5 November.
