Patrick LE LAY

Mainly known for his many years as President of French TV channel, TF1, and for his puppet on their version of Spitting Image – Les Guignols de l’Info – Patrick Le Lay took over the running of Stade Rennais in June 2010. His predecessor Frédéric de Saint-Sernin was unable to continue his role owing to heart problems. Being a dyed in the wool Breton, and a longstanding friend of François Pinault, Le Lay wasn’t put there for his knowledge of football, which was virtually inexistant, but to demonstrate his undoubted expertise in other areas: Company management, the entertainment business, media coverage, financial management and the approach of overblown egos, as there are so many in the world of football. In his first days as President, he agreed to the cut-price transfers set up by the pairing of Dréossi and Antonetti: Carrasso, Montaño, Kana-Biyik, Apam and Mandjeck. As time progressed, even some oddball press statements could not take away from his excellent management of the club.