New change of direction in the governance of Soccer Québec: The Press has learned that a joint agreement has been reached so that general manager Pari Arshagouni will leave his position as of this Thursday. Arshagouni had held these positions since last October.
The directors of Soccer Québec were met a little before 11 a.m., while the employees were met at 11:30 a.m., to tell them the news.
Philippe Bernard, general director of the Quebec Regional Soccer Association, will act on an interim basis for 30 to 90 days. In particular, he will ensure the implementation of a transition plan so that the federation can focus again on soccer issues. If necessary, other regional associations could come and lend a hand.
The teams from the Sport, Leisure and Outdoor sector of the Ministry of Education also offered their support to Soccer Québec during the transition period.
Botched nomination process
This is because the governance of the largest team sport federation in the province, in terms of registrations, has been navigating troubled waters since last November. At that time, Radio-Canada revealed that the appointment process which led to the hiring of Pari Arshagouni as general director had been botched.
PHOTO TAKEN FROM THE SOCCER QUÉBEC TWITTER ACCOUNT
Arshagouni bet
Arshagouni, a man with an extensive background in the world of Quebec soccer, was appointed president of the CA in June 2023. Note that the position of president is voluntary, therefore unpaid. A few months later, Olivier Plante, then CEO, was dismissed from his position without apparent reason. The best paid position in the federation was therefore vacant.
Radio-Canada indicated that a call for applications was launched from September 20 to October 10. Arshagouni, who resigned from the presidency a few days before the deadline, was appointed as DG on October 11. No interviews were conducted during the hiring process, neither for Arshagouni nor for other candidates.
“I had been working with them for four months and they saw me working,” he emphasized in an interview with the state company in November. Some people told me I was in an informal interview for four months. When it comes to appearances, everyone can interpret things in different ways. I am very confident with my decision because I did not disrupt the process that was in place. »
The decision on Thursday morning at Soccer Quebec, we are assured, has no link with the nomination process. Rather, we are talking about feedback from employees who were not satisfied with the way it worked.
Barely four months after said appointment, therefore, the federation chose to go in another direction.
But the important thing, we say today, was not to let this file drag on.