Senegalese coach Habib Beye is expected to officially join OM. But before that happens, certain conditions must be met.
Despite his resignation, Medhi Benatia remains in his role as OM’s football director with expanded powers. The Moroccan now has a free hand to choose the next head coach of Olympique de Marseille. As reported over the past few days, Habib Beye is the number one choice for the Moroccan executive.
According to Libération this Tuesday, the Senegalese tactician is “99%” certain to become the new manager of the Marseille club.
Beye is expected to be appointed in Marseille with a short-term mission: to finish in the top three of Ligue 1 to secure direct qualification for the Champions League, and only then consider a longer-term future together. To achieve this objective, Beye is expected to come alone and accept “a minimal salary”.
Another snag is Habib Beye’s contractual dispute with Stade Rennais.
Both appeared before the Ligue 1 disciplinary committee this Tuesday to try to reach an agreement that would allow the Franco-Senegalese coach to be released from his contract with the Bretons and sign with Olympique Marseille. The deadline has been postponed.
Indeed, RMC Sport reports that the two parties did not reach a conciliation.
Faced with this deadlock, Stade Rennais has until March 12 to send the contract termination letter to Habib Beye so that he can become a free agent.
Otherwise, he will have to be patient before returning to Marseille, this time as a coach.
However, the good relations between the Breton club and Marseille should help find a resolution as soon as possible, allowing Rennes to legally and formally release their now-former coach.
In another report, Super Eagles coach, Eric Chelle, is reported to have overtaken Habib Beye in the race for the Marseille head coach position.
According to Fabrice Romain, Malian specialist Eric Chelle has emerged as the leading candidate for the vacant post, pushing Habib Beye down the list of favourites. Chelle is currently in Paris and has already entered into active negotiations with the Marseille club management, who are seeking a reliable leader to stabilise the team’s situation.
Things started moving quickly after Habib Beye’s talks with Rennes hit a dead end. The resulting uncertainty prompted Marseille’s bosses to shift their focus to Chelle, whose candidacy now seems both more accessible and promising under the current circumstances.
