Bernard Laporte-Fray

Bernard Laporte-Fray
Born	(1956-05-06) 6 May 1956 (age 69) Uzos, France
Nationality	French
Occupation	Businessman
Known for	President of Pau FC
Children	2, including Yann

Bernard Laporte-Fray (born 6 May 1956) is a French entrepreneur and football executive. He is the current president of Pau FC, a role he has held since 2010, after having saved the club from liquidation in 1995. ^{[1] [2] [3]}

In 2021, together with former Croatian international Dado Pršo, he acquired Demba Diop FC, a second-division football club in Senegal. ^[4]

His son, Yann Laporte-Fray, is the commercial, marketing, and communications director of Pau FC. ^[5]

Early life and playing career

Laporte-Fray grew up in Uzos, where his father worked as a factory employee for Turbomeca. ^[6] His father was also president of the local club ASCUR, which later merged with Mazères-Lezons to form ASMUR.

Educated at Immaculée Conception in Pau, he was a schoolmate of Bernard Pontneau, later president of Section Paloise. Initially interested in playing rugby union, he instead pursued football as a goalkeeper.

In 1978, he joined FC Pau under president Pierre Clède, alongside midfielder Joël Lopez. ^[7] He was the starting goalkeeper when the club won promotion to the third division in 1983. After losing his starting place to Jean-Paul Sesma, he returned to amateur football with Union Jurançonnaise, where he later became coach in 1986. ^[8]

President of Pau FC

In 1995, after the liquidation of FC Pau, Laporte-Fray and Lopez took over the club, stabilising its finances. ^{[9] [10]}

Outside football, he invested in two retirement homes in his native Béarn, Le Beau Manoir in Uzos and Les Chênes in Artix. ^[11] He also developed strong ties with Senegal, recruiting several Senegalese players for Pau FC.

Despite a temporary ban from sporting activities in the 2000s, Laporte-Fray remained majority shareholder of Pau FC and later resumed the presidency, guiding the club to professional status and financial stability. ^[12]

Controversies

In 2001, Laporte-Fray and Pau FC sporting director Richard Allenda were convicted of cocaine possession and received suspended prison sentences. ^{[13] [14]} He stepped aside temporarily, with Jacques Le Coadou and later Joël Lopez assuming the presidency.

Laporte-Fray subsequently spent two years in Senegal before returning to Pau FC leadership. ^[15]

References

1. "Coronavirus: Le président de Pau entre le foot et l'Ehpad". Franceinfo (in French). 23 April 2020.
2. "Football : "Nous sommes attachés à préparer la suite"". Europe 1 (in French).
3. "Bernard Laporte-Fray: « Pour connaître la Ligue 2, il faudrait déjà rester en National »". La République des Pyrénées (in French).
4. "Football : Bernard Laporte-Fray achète un club au Sénégal". La République des Pyrénées (in French). 19 July 2021.
5. "Pau FC : Yann Laporte-Fray, en son nom". La République des Pyrénées (in French). 6 October 2022.
6. "Une âme de bâtisseur". La République des Pyrénées (in French). 26 June 1998.
7. "Derrière Laporte-Fray". La République des Pyrénées (in French). 29 January 2020.
8. "Laporte-Fray entrainera l'Union jurançonnaise". La République des Pyrénées (in French). 13 June 1986.
9. "FC Pau en liquidation judiciaire". Libération (in French). 8 February 1995.
10. "Une équipe de repreneurs tient la corde à Pau". Sud Ouest (in French). 11 February 1995.
11. "Entre le FC Pau et ses Ehpad, Bernard Laporte-Fray est sur tous les fronts". L'Équipe (in French).
12. "Un projet pour la Ligue 2". La République des Pyrénées (in French). 16 October 2007.
13. "Le président et le directeur du Pau FC en prison". Sud Ouest (in French). 20 November 2001.
14. "Les trois hommes écroués". La République des Pyrénées (in French). 20 November 2001.
15. "Derrière Laporte-Fray". La République des Pyrénées (in French). 29 January 2020.

External links

• Official Pau FC website