Kachkar, who is reported to be injecting 115 million euros into the club to become the new owner, said in another statement that he was "very happy" the plan had received the board's backing.

The meeting comprised 17 people including Marseille's managing director Thierry de La Brosse and president Pape Diouf was present part of the time.

The 43-year-old Kachkar, president of pharmaceutical firm Inyx which employs more than 575 people in North America and Europe, hopes to make the most of Marseille's commercial potential by getting international sponsors and boosting their profile in certain markets.

Kachkar is of Armenian Catholtic origin yet born in Syria and raised briefly in Lebanon.

He expressed himself in English and his comments were interpreted by one of the lawyers of London legal firm Allen and Overy.

Kachkar was also accompanied by two of his advisors, Serge Delwasse, to examine the accounts and commercial organisation, and Harald Sven, whose role was more on the sporting side.

Kachkar also met the eight Marseille fan clubs in an amicable atmosphere, according to Michel Tonini, vice-president of one of the groups.

"We can feel the sincerity in his words," Tonini said of Kachkar. "He is here to invest and said he might even be active in the winter transfer market to help achieve our aim of qualifying for the Champions League."

Kachkar told AFP by telephone after the meeting that he had also met Marseille mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin, saying he was an "important partner of the club."