John Textor could be toppled in Lyon leadership reshuffle as grip on presidency weakens | OneFootball

Three days after being administratively relegated to Ligue 2, Olympique Lyonnais are working behind the scenes on a new leadership structure — one that could see Michele Kang and Michael Gerlinger assume executive control of the crisis-hit club.

According to L’Équipe, the pair are being lined up to replace John Textor, whose grip on the OL presidency is weakening under increasing pressure from ARES Management, the American investment fund that loaned €400m to finance his 2022 takeover.

Gerlinger, currently director of football at Eagle Football Group, is expected to lead OL’s appeal in front of the DNCG in July. He could also step in as General Manager — a role left vacant since Laurent Prud’homme’s sidelining in April.

Alongside him, Michele Kang — already president of OL’s women’s team and a major shareholder in Eagle — could become interim executive president of OL. Kang, as well as fellow stakeholders Jean-Pierre Conte and Textor himself, is preparing to reinvest funds in a last-ditch effort to satisfy the DNCG’s demands.

On Friday, two Eagle board members, including Christopher Mallon, were seen at the club’s Décines HQ, working on a presentation dossier intended to convince the DNCG. Their arrival has sparked renewed speculation that ARES may seek to take control — or at least force a restructuring — after months of failed attempts to sideline Textor.GFFN | George Boxall