After Pablo Longoria’s departure, Medhi Benatia is also set to leave OM at the end of the season: club owner Frank McCourt has accepted the resignation of his director of football, who had initially agreed to extend his tenure for a few more months. The American businessman also expressed his desire to appoint a new president for OM in the coming weeks.
The entire organizational structure is being disrupted. Following Pablo Longoria’s exit, OM will need to find a replacement for Medhi Benatia: Frank McCourt has accepted the resignation of his director of football, who had submitted his resignation in February but had ultimately agreed to stay until the end of the season. As reported by RMC Sport, he did not wish to continue beyond this date, which the owner of OM confirms in an interview with JDD published this Saturday.
“After receiving his resignation, I personally asked him to extend his notice period and I thank him for accepting because it was essential to finish the season. Medhi is an excellent sports director. He will remain until the end of the season and then it will be over. That’s his wish and that’s what we agreed upon,” stated Frank McCourt.
A new president also needs to be found for OM. Alban Juster has been appointed to act as interim president. However, the club owner hopes to quickly find a “strong president.”
“I hope we will have the opportunity to announce the new president before the end of the season,” Frank McCourt said. “The process is underway. My preference is for someone who knows France and Marseille well because I believe it is crucial to understand the club’s culture. The person must also be a seasoned and experienced manager. Over the years, we have gained a more nuanced understanding of how a club like Marseille should be led, with a strong president who represents the owner. We are very clear about our needs. This is obviously a fundamental position. I hope we will have the opportunity to announce the new president before the end of the season.”
With the aim of reaffirming his commitment to Marseille, even in the event of not qualifying for the next Champions League, Frank McCourt said, “Sport is complicated, I experience it daily at a professional level for over twenty years. But when I look at where OM was when I bought it and where it is now, it’s like night and day. The club was not viewed in the same way in 2016. Today, OM is knocking on the door to return to its highest level. That’s the ambition, and we are getting closer to it.”
