New OM President Richard Criticizes Predecessor's Transfer Strategy

Newly appointed Marseille president Stéphane Richard has taken a clear swipe at the transfer policy of his predecessor, Pablo Longoria, in his first public comments since taking an operational role. In an interview with RTL on Tuesday, the incoming president, who will formally take the presidency on July 2nd, criticized the club's recent history of squad upheaval.

'There has been too much instability at this club in recent years, between the coaches and even the squad itself,' Richard stated. 'Football is a team sport, made of great individuals, but it's a collective game. It's very complicated to get a team to play well when a third or half the squad changes every year. It's even impossible. I think the first thing this club needs is stability.' The comments are widely seen as a direct critique of the transfer strategy of Longoria, who oversaw significant squad churn in recent transfer windows.

Richard also addressed the future of manager Jean-Louis Gasset, who replaced Gennaro Gattuso earlier this year. 'He has a clear objective, which is to ensure a strong finish to the season,' Richard said, referring to the club's ongoing push for Champions League qualification. 'Everyone knows the stakes involved in qualifying for the Champions League. Let him do his work.' The new president's priority appears to be bringing a period of calm and consistency to the club's often volatile sporting project, signaling a potential shift away from the high-turnover transfer model of recent years.