Paris (AFP)
Laid off as a precautionary measure since March 10, Angers sports director Olivier Pickeu announced Friday that he had been "dismissed for serious misconduct" after 14 years with the football club.
"I took note today, after having been interviewed on March 10, of my dismissal for serious misconduct with immediate effect," said Olivier Pickeu in a press release.
"At this stage, I leave it to President Said Chabane to communicate the alleged reasons to try to justify this decision, which I strongly challenge," he continued.
"When the time comes, I intend to assert my rights with regard to the very serious personal and professional damage that I suffer as a result of this sudden sidelining and the reasons and conditions in which it took place," added the 50 year old striker.
Pickeu concludes by thanking the different components of the SCO who "for almost 14 years (m) 'have encouraged, supported and trusted in the development of this club which will forever remain the club of my heart."
Olivier Pickeu's layoff in March came the day after the appointment of a deputy president, Fabrice Favetto-Bon, responsible from the end of May for the daily management of the club to allow the president, Saïd Chabane, under review in February for sexual assault, to step back.
Born in Armentières, Olivier Pickeu was trained in Lille, began his career as a professional player in Caen and mainly played in Ligue 2 (Toulouse, Amiens, Le Mans ...).
At the time of hanging up the crampons, he hired himself as sports director in 2006 in Angers, which went up the following year in Ligue 2 then in 2015 in Ligue 1, thanks in particular to the funds committed by Mr. Chabane, who took over the club in 2011.
With Saïd Chabane and Stéphane Moulin, reserve coach since 2006 and first team since 2011, he was part of a trio of unusual stability in professional football.
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