The miracle at the Velodrome

CHRISTMAS was not a happy time at Olympique de Marseille. In France’s second city, crisis is a way of life, and not just football-wise.

But even by OM's standards, the chaos which has followed Alain Perrin's dismissal was almost unprecedented.

Perrin, who'd taken Troyes from the lower divisions to the UEFA Cup in a matter of years, had seemingly done the same trick with Marseille. Brought to clean up the unholy mess left by a succession of ephemeral coaches, ramshackle organisation, chronic debt, cronyism and open warfare at the top of the club, he had achieved his mission perfectly.