Bouchet resigns

Bouchet's resignation was reported by French radio station Europe 1 and his departure was set to be made official at a news conference later on Thursday.

Anigo resigned on Tuesday after Marseille had won one of their last seven games.

Marseille have also lost eight successive matches to their arch-rivals Paris St Germain -- two of them this season -- and that is seen as unacceptable by the club's demanding fans.

The supporters also repeatedly called for Bouchet to step down. The club president, a former journalist, was closely tied to Anigo.

Regarding Troussier, Marseille sports director Pape Diouf, who is expected to take over as club president, said: "We have had advanced talks. I cannot yet tell you that we struck a deal but I'm confident we'll make it within 48 hours."

Troussier will not, however, be in the dug-out for Saturday's Ligue 1 game against Nantes even if he is appointed before then.

"The new coach, who will most probably be Philippe Troussier, will take the reins for next week's Ligue 1 game against Caen," Diouf said.

Dubbed "the white wizard" after his various spells as manager of African countries, Troussier, 49, will need some magic to revive Marseille's season.

Seventh in the Ligue 1 standings, 10 points behind Olympique Lyon, the former European champions sank 2-0 at lowly Ajaccio last weekend, a defeat that forced Anigo to step down.

Troussier had been approached by Marseille in 2002 when Bouchet took the club's reins but Alain Perrin was chosen instead.

Troussier's main feat as a manager was taking Japan to the second round of the 2002 World Cup.

The Frenchman had previously coached Ivory Coast, Nigeria, South Africa and Burkina Faso. He was in charge of Qatar for a short while last season.

Troussier will be the 10th Marseille coach since businessman Robert Louis-Dreyfus took control of the club in 1996.

Louis-Dreyfus, who still remains the club's leading shareholder, met Marseille mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin on Thursday amid reports he was about to sell his shares.

Diouf firmly denied the reports.

"Louis-Dreyfus has no intention of stepping down. He's behind the club more than ever," he said.

Troussier will join a club often rocked by controversies and scandals.

Earlier in the week a Marseille court said the investigation into questionable transfers between 1997 and 1999 had been completed and a trial was expected to be held in 2005.

Troussier's main task will be to boost the team's attack.

Marseille have only scored 15 goals in as many games this season while recruits Peguy Luyindula and Habib Bamogo have so far failed to deliver.