Football
Ian Holyman, France correspondent 7y

Ex-Marseille president Bernard Tapie sceptical of new owner Frank McCourt

Former Marseille president Bernard Tapie has warned the club's fans not to get too excited until new owner Frank McCourt has delivered on his promises.

Tapie is remembered fondly by OM supporters for having presided over the most glorious period in the club's history, during which they finished runners-up in the 1991 European Cup final and then beat a legendary AC Milan side to win the 1993 Champions League.

McCourt revealed his ambition to win the competition again when he completed his purchase of the Ligue 1 side last week, and immediately promised to plough €200 million into the squad over the next four seasons, yet Tapie remains sceptical.

"We haven't seen the money yet," Tapie said on Tout le Sport. "We have to wait. I've seen so many things, if you only knew. It's not what they say that counts, it's what they do."

Tapie, who served a prison sentence for his part in a match-fixing scandal during the 1990s, was arguably the most recognisable face at Marseille during his reign at the club, which saw players such as Chris Waddle, Marcel Desailly and Didier Deschamps come and go.

Tapie advised McCourt to be equally familiar to the public and those at the club, and warned the American businessman to stay on this side of the Atlantic.

"I suggest he surrounds himself with the best people, but once he has done that, he'll be the one to build the club," Tapie said. "The president sometimes has to give people a dressing-down, which the coach can't do because he sees the players every day and has an almost affectionate relationship with them. So, if he leaves for the USA once he has put his staff in place, it won't work."

McCourt has already stated that he, his partner and youngest daughter will live in France.

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