Pape, you met with Jack Kachkar, what is your first impression?
A positive impression. His intentions are in line with those of Robert Louis-Dreyfus, that Marseille should have a great football team. His aim is to get the team to the top of the league and then to ensure that OM is a regular on the European stage.
As for me, he asked me to stay on and fulfil my role at the head of the club. I accepted, asking him to recognise that there is a team around me, a proven, professional and competent team. He did so.
And so now we wait for the deal to go ahead, which is in the hands of the lawyers.

What are his plans for the organisation of the club?
He doesn’t want to provoke instability in the club, he wants it to keep working as it is today. There may be some reinforcements to the management team here, but he hopes any additions can be assimilated comfortably into the group. He also told me why he came to Marseille when he had the chance to buy West Ham and Aston Villa instead: Marseille is a city that attracts him, and that OM is a brand that has few equivalents in Europe.

Has he already made an agreement to install Sven Goran Eriksson as manager next season?
Absolutely not. Jack Kachkar was very clear on this point. Eriksson is not the man he wants to bring with him to Marseille.

Will he come to the club soon?
He wants to, and asked me to organise it. I will take care of the details for his visit.

Will you meet with him again soon?
Yes, we will meet again before the end of the week to further discusses what we spoke about today as well as the sale of the club, which needs to be concluded.

Did he say he would be accompanied by other investors?
It’s an idea. He plans to come to the club with some important investors in such a way that the club can benefit, installing itself in the top places on the table and hence on the European scene. We spoke about that, yes.

What motivated him to make this purchase offer?
First and foremost he is a businessman who believes he can make a success of the business that is OM. Furthermore, there are sentimental reasons for the offer. He has often visited the area and has connections here. The city and the region have a hold on him.

Earlier in the day on Tuesday, Pape Diouf gave us an interview in which he confirmed that the sale of the club was under way, indicating what conditions Robert Louis-Dreyfus had put on the sale. POUR LIRE CETTE INTERVIEW, CLIQUEZ ICI

Jack Kachkar, Canadian businessman of Armenian origins, a medical doctor, is the President and Director of Karver Capital Holdings, which invests in both listed and non-listed companies in North America and Europe. He is also the Director-General of Inyx Inc, international pharmaceutical company listed on the NASDAQ and based in New York. Inyx specialises in medical technology and drug delivery devices for respiratory infections and allergies, as well as painkillers.

COMMUNIQUE FROM JACK KACHKAR (SENT TO AFP)
“Mr Jack Kachkar confirms that he has made a firm offer to Mr Robert Louis-Dreyfus, accompanied by guarantees, for his majority shareholding in Olympique de Marseille.
Mr Louis-Dreyfus indicated that he is examining the offer.
Hoping to invest in a big European football club, Mr Kachkar seized the opportunity to get involved with Olympique de Marseille, a club he sees as legendary, which he has followed for many years and which operates in a region he holds very dear. An avid football fan, Jack Kachkar intends to hoist the club to the highest international level by bringing his network of professional relationships to bear on it.
Jack Kachkar said: “I have long wanted to invest personally in a big football club. I love football and have carefully followed the fortunes of OM for a long time. I like the players as well as the supporters’ commitment to their team.
To become the owner of this mythical club is an honour for me. That’s why I plan to immerse myself totally and for the long term in the club, and to work actively with the teams, the players, the directors, collaborators and supporters. Together we can make OM a great European club once more. I am very grateful to Robert Louis-Dreyfus for the trust he has accorded me today.”
Mr Kachkar’s offer will be considered by OM’s business committee over the coming days. The venture should be concluded by the end of February.”

COMMUNIQUE FROM JEAN-CLAUDE GAUDIN (SENATOR-MAYOR OF MARSEILLE)
Robert LOUIS-DREYFUS, principal shareholder of Olympique de Marseille (OM), today met with Jean-Claude GAUDIN, Senator-Mayor of Marseille, in his Senate office in Paris to discuss the planned sale of OM to Jack Kachkar, Canadian businessman of Armenian origin, owner of the Inyx laboratories and the investment company KARVER CAPITAL HOLDINGS. In this meeting, also attended by the new buyer from Toronto, the Mayor of Marseille warmly thanked Robert LOUIS-DREYFUS for his personal and financial investment in OM since 1996.
Jean-Claude GAUDIN informed Jack KACHKAR that the name of OM could in no way be called into question, the same going for the colours “blue and white”, symbols of Marseille’s identity.
He also informed the Canadian that all of OM’s home games must take place at the Stade Vélodrome, which is owned by the City of Marseille, as is the training centre La Commanderie and the youth academy Bastide du Chemin Joseph Aiguier.
He asked Jack KACHKAR to make a financial investment in support of the youth development for football in Marseille, an initiative well in place during the time of Robert LOUIS-DREYFUS.
As for Jack KACHKAR, he assured the Mayor of his desire to wait until the end of the season to make any changes to the board of directors or the technical staff.
Jean-Claude GAUDIN welcomed Jack KACHKAR, who is in the process of buying a residence near Aix, and wished him the best of luck in his future responsibilities at the head of OM.

COMMUNIQUE FROM FREDERIC THIRIEZ (LFP)
“Robert Louis-Dreyfus tonight began the process of the sale of Olympique de Marseille.
Whatever the outcome of these discussions, I would underline that Robert Louis-Dreyfus has brought a lot to OM and French football during his decade at the helm,” declared Frédéric Thiriez, President of the LFP. “He spared no effort to help OM reach its loftiest goals. He will leave a club, currently in third place, in a good sporting state. A club that, thanks to him, has remained in the leading group of French football clubs.”
“If the sale of the club goes through, I note that, as is customary, the Direction Nationale de Contrôle de Gestion (DNCG) of the LFP will approach the new owner to examine the durability and viability of his project,” added Frédéric Thiriez.