Marseille suspend boss Villas-boas after comments over Ntcham deal

Marseille have temporarily suspended head coach Andre Villas-boas after he earlier offered his resignation following the deadline day signing of Olivier Ntcham. claimed the Celtic midfielder, who joined on loan until the end of the season, was not a player he wanted and said he did not agree with the club's "sporting policy".

The Ligue 1 club have reacted by placing the former Chelsea and Tottenham manager on gardening leave. They said in a statement on their official website: "Marseille announces the temporary suspension of Andre Villas-boas.

"This decision has become inevitable due to repeated actions and comments which are seriously damaging to Olympique Marseille and its employees, who defend it daily.

"The comments regarding sporting director Pablo Longoria made today at a press conference are unacceptable.

"Any sanctions against Andre Villas-boas will be taken following disciplinary provillas-boas cedures." Ntcham moved to the Ligue 1 club on loan from Celtic late on Monday, but the Portuguese claims he did not find out about it until reading the news yesterday morning.

"It's not a decision I'd taken, I heard about it this morning in the press when I woke up," Villas-boas said in a press conference, reported by L'equipe. "He's a player I said no to. He wasn't on my list, I wasn't going for him.

" I've submitted my resignation to the board, I don't want to breach my contract but I don't agree with the sporting policy.”