Thierry Gomez steps down at Le Mans, Pedro Oliveira replaces him | OneFootball

Thierry Gomez has left his role as Le Mans president, with the club returning to Ligue 1 next season. The club said in a statement that Pedro Oliveira, co-founder of Brazilian group OutField, will take over.

Gomez had been in charge since July 2016, when Le Mans were in National 3. The 63-year-old will not lead them into the top flight.

Under his stewardship Le Mans won three promotions in three years, then dropped to the third tier after 2019-2020. Promoted again last summer, they finished second this season to seal promotion.

Gomez said a cycle had ended and called it a difficult decision, adding it was important to leave at the right time. He said he was handing responsibility to OutField and Pedro Oliveira, convinced they will continue and build on the momentum.

He also pointed to the difficulty of finding a sustainable model for French clubs, saying he began seeking new investors about three years ago. OutField arrived as a minority early this season, then became majority in February, and he wished Le Mans and its new owner success over the next 10 years. He previously chaired Estac from 2004 to 2009.

Source: L'Équipe