Digard Loses His HAC Coaching Job as President Roussier Announces His Resignation

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On Saturday, October 31, 2026, Le Havre Athletic Club announced two personnel decisions: coach Didier Digard was suspended on a provisional basis, and President Jean-Michel Roussier announced his resignation. The decision was prompted by the 1:5 defeat the previous day against Paris Saint-Germain. The Normandy club thus faced the league bottom side on the evening before the announcement, having earned only two points from nine matches.

Digard's case requires particular attention to the wording: the club explicitly describes it as a “mise à pied à titre conservatoire,” meaning a provisional suspension as part of an ongoing process. Until a final decision is made, Jaïr Karam, the director of the academy, will lead the team as interim coach from Monday, November 2.

Why Le Havre Is Losing Both Its Coach and President

The immediate trigger

Both decisions come during a phase in which the club's sporting crisis could hardly have been more severe. Le Havre conceded five goals at home against Paris Saint-Germain. In the preceding nine Ligue 1 matches, the club had collected only two draws and seven defeats. The team was therefore five points behind Strasbourg, the side in the relegation playoff position.

On Friday, Digard had also criticized his players' “fautes professionnelles,” or professional errors. The coach was referring to a run that affected not only the club's league position but also its work within the squad: Le Havre had conceded 12 goals in three matches and had previously suffered a fifth consecutive league defeat.

The club's leadership

Another part of the problem lies with Roussier. The club had already introduced a new sporting structure during the summer: sports director Mathieu Bodmer left, Demba Ba took over, and the squad underwent a major personnel overhaul. Two more executives thus departed within a few months from the coaching staff or administrative side.

Digard's own path was closely linked to the club. The 40-year-old former player was developed there, took over as coach in 2024, and extended his contract in June by a further season. His provisional suspension therefore came only a few months after that extension.

What Roussier's Resignation Means Organizationally

No formal handover of office yet

The club's statement follows a clear procedural pattern. Members of the board of Blue Crow Sports Group, the American owners of Le Havre Athletic Club, accepted the principle of Roussier's resignation on October 31. It is due to be formally presented and approved on Thursday, November 5, at the board's next meeting.

Until then, chief executive Yacine Alaoui will assume the full scope of his duties. He will report directly to the board and oversee all of the club's administrative and sporting activities. According to the club's statement, a new president and chief executive is to be officially appointed very soon.

Four years at the helm

Roussier was 71 years old and had served as HAC president since June 2022. He previously led Olympique Marseille from 1995 to 1999 and FC Nancy from 2018 to 2020. Under him, the club won promotion back to France's top division in 2023 and remained in Ligue 1 for the three ensuing years. This continuity is now ending not with an immediate replacement, but with an orderly handover extending beyond November 5.

Why Digard's Provisional Suspension Remains Unresolved

Not a final dismissal

Unlike a termination of contract, HAC's statement describes a measure with an explicit reservation. Digard was suspended on a provisional basis as part of an ongoing process, and the club is awaiting further decisions. The reports therefore offer no indication of whether this will result in a permanent separation or another resolution.

Until the matter is clarified, responsibility for the team has already been arranged. Karam is taking over more than just training duties: the club is appointing him interim coach from Monday, November 2, allowing the team to continue operating. Le Havre is therefore not left without a coach in sporting terms, even though its permanent successor remains undecided.

The Next Two Matches Will Shape the Relegation Battle

A calendar turning point

Immediately before the international break, the bottom-placed side faces two opponents that are themselves fighting to avoid relegation. Le Havre will host Lorient first before traveling to Troyes. For the newly assembled coaching staff, the next decisive run therefore begins in practical terms straight away.

The personnel decisions do not change the starting point. With seven defeats and two draws from nine matches, Le Havre remains five points behind Strasbourg. At the same time, Karam is taking over a team that has recently lost not only its results but also its defensive stability, having conceded 12 goals in three matches.