Marseilles (AFP)

As he had promised, OM owner Frank McCourt arrived in Marseille on Monday, 24 hours before new club coach Jorge Sampaoli, and mayor Benoît Payan once again asked the American businessman " to calm the situation ".

Following a period of poor results and deep tensions between management and supporters, McCourt (67) made a big upheaval at the head of the Marseille club on Friday.

He ousted President Jacques-Henri Eyraud, replacing him with Spanish sporting director Pablo Longoria, and announced the appointment as coach of the Argentinian Sampaoli, expected for his part Tuesday morning in Marseille.

The owner of OM, who arrived at Marignane airport on Monday aboard a private flight, immediately set off for the Stade Vélodrome for an interview with the regional daily La Provence.

Then, at the beginning of the afternoon, he was received at the town hall, in the company of Pablo Longoria.

"Frank McCourt and Pablo Longoria were received by Benoît Payan. The exchange was cordial and constructive," the town hall confirmed to AFP.

"It was an opportunity for the mayor to recall the unwavering strength that unites the club and the city and the essential role of the supporters. He once again asked Mr. McCourt to calm the situation."

"The dialogue was broken, but the shareholder heard the messages coming from all sides, in particular from the mayor of Marseille," for his part explained to AFP Sébastien Jibrayel, the city's sports assistant.

"Dialogue, respect, it is important. We cannot dialogue by mail, by mail or by way of press. Because OM is nothing without its supporters", he added.

During his stay in Marseille, which should last at least until Wednesday, Frank McCourt must also meet representatives of all OM supporters groups, who were in total opposition to Jacques-Henri Eyraud.

- Sampaoli in septaine?

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The tension between the two parties peaked at the end of January with serious incidents at the La Commanderie training center.

Last week, 12 supporters were given suspended prison sentences for the violence.

The arrival in Marseille of Mr. McCourt is accompanied by that expected Tuesday of the Argentinian Jorge Sampaoli, new coach of the club.

The former Sevilla coach and Argentina and Chile coach is due to arrive late Tuesday morning in Marseille, on the eve of a trip by the Olympians to the championship leader Lille, AFP learned Monday from a source in his entourage.

"Sampaoli is a coach with a profile adapted to the supporters, with this Argentinian grinta and this desire for an attacking game," said Mr. Jibrayel.

The 60-year-old Argentinian technician, who arrives from Brazil where he terminated his contract with Atlético Mineiro, should be subjected to medical isolation on his arrival, according to his entourage.

Without being absolutely confirmed as it stands, the principle of a "septaine" is also considered "probable" within the club.

Sampaoli's debut on the Marseille bench could therefore be postponed.

This week, OM must face Lille on Wednesday (9:00 p.m.) in L1, then Canet-en-Roussillon (N2) on Sunday in the round of 16 of the Coupe de France, undoubtedly remaining under the leadership of interim Nasser Larguet, director of his training center.

Then, Marseille will host Rennes on March 10 in a late L1 match.

Sampaoli is committed until June 2023 with OM, who were looking for a long-term coach since the dismissal in early February of the Portuguese André Villas-Boas.

bur-jed-jta-stt / iw / dep

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