OM has been tearing itself apart in recent hours. Including between supporters.
The words of a few cannot reflect the general state of mind. This is in essence the message delivered since Tuesday by a number of OM supporters, dismayed by the turn of events in Marseille and this stormy meeting between leaders and association officials, Monday evening at the Commanderie. This episode, in addition to the club’s disappointing results since the start of the season, got the better of Marcelino on the bench. A lesser evil at this time for the Olympians.
The stakes are much higher now since the four pillars which are Pablo Longoria (the president), Javier Ribalta (the sporting director), Stéphane Tessier (the financial director) and Pedro Iriondo (the general director) have officially withdrawn of their function. No deadline announced and perhaps never to return again. A virtual certainty today as far as Javier Ribalta and Pedro Iriondo are concerned.
An online petition
Pablo Longoria, who has had all the power in Marseille for two years, only seems to be held back for the moment by his sole loyalty to Frank McCourt. The person concerned does not accept that his integrity could have been called into question by certain leaders of supporter groups. For OM, this confusion is a disaster. And Rongier and others will have to successively face Ajax, PSG, Monaco and Brighton with an interim coach – Pancho Abardonado – over the next fortnight.
If Longoria leaves, an entire club will have to be rebuilt on a field of ruins. A fate refused by thousands of supporters who have already signed an online petition to support their president. This Wednesday evening, after 24 hours of voting opening, nearly 40,000 have already mobilized. Or more or less the number of subscribers to the Vélodrome stadium. This affair will certainly leave its mark in Marseille. Those of a gaping divide between leaders and supporters, but above all between the supporters themselves.
