James Zhou Sacks Christophe Pélissier, Will Still Expected to Replace

James Zhou announced on AJ Auxerre's official website that manager Christophe Pélissier will leave the club and that Will Still is expected to take over. Zhou asked supporters for patience as the club enters a transitional period. Zhou said the 2025-26 season was difficult, with the team hovering near the bottom of the Ligue 1 table for much of the campaign. He noted that a 2-0 victory over Lille OSC on the final matchday secured top‑flight status, followed by three successive wins to close the domestic season. Christophe Pélissier took charge of AJ Auxerre in the 2022-23 Ligue 1 campaign after the dismissal of Jean‑Marc Furlan. The club dropped into Ligue 2 at the end of that season, but Pélissier guided them to the Ligue 2 crown in 2023-24 and an 11th‑place finish in Ligue 1 in 2024-25. Zhou expressed full confidence in club president Baptiste Malherbe to execute the future mission, emphasizing a desire to progress, develop the club and guarantee sustainability at the highest level. He also recalled that besides the recent Ligue 2 title, AJ Auxerre won the Coupe de France in 2005, and under former manager Guy Roux they captured the Ligue 1 title and Coupe de France in 1995-96. Joel Lefevre reported the statements.