It is with great emotion in his voice that the owner of the Thetford Blue Sox and the Sherbrooke Expos, François Lécuyer, announced that he had made the decision to step down at the end of this season and to put its two Quebec Major League Baseball teams on sale.
“It was a very difficult decision to take both personally and emotionally, it is however unavoidable”, he said from the outset in front of the media and supporters gathered in the locker room of the Thetford team at the Desjardins stadium, on Thursday. September 2.
Time will have done its work for the man who has been involved in baseball for 17 years now and who acquired a franchise in 2009 to move it to Thetford Mines in 2010. The last few months have been particularly difficult because of pandemic made him realize that he had walked around the garden and that it was time to give his place to someone else.
“I just crossed my 50s last May and there are some things that I accepted at 35, but not anymore. With age you become more and more intransigent, less and less patient and my shell isn’t what it used to be, so it’s better for me to sell, ”he said.
The 400 to 500 hours invested in the two teams are hours that they do not spend with his children and his spouse, nor for his business, his other activities and above all, for himself and his health. While being grateful for the pool of 95% of people who supported him throughout his career, the criticisms of the remaining 5% were becoming increasingly heavy to bear according to him.
“Until recently, I didn’t mind too much, but today some people, certain situations and life made me realize that I had probably given what I had to give, that I am not perhaps more the man for the job and even more, that I am, possibly, more a cause of problem than of solution in my own organization. “
LOCAL SUCCESSORS
François Lécuyer is giving himself until December 31, 2021, i.e. until the end of his fiscal year, to make way for a new administration. He particularly wanted to stress that he left teams in good health.
“Several scenarios are possible for the rest of things, I am very open and flexible. Everything will naturally be conditional on certain non-negotiable points, because I do not want to sell to just anyone, ”he said, specifying that he would like the guarantee that the buyer will ensure the continuity and sustainability of the organizations. .
For him, the ideal scenario would be for the two organizations to become the property of the local minor baseball. Otherwise, he would like to sell to a private person, like him, or to a company that would like to create visibility with a sports team. The third option, the one he least wants, would be to sell the franchise with assets and players to another city. However, his desire remains for local people to get involved and he promises his collaboration to ensure the transition.
