Marseille president Pape Diouf admits he was left shocked by the criticism levelled at him by club owner Robert Louis-Dreyfus.

Louis-Dreyfus earlier this week slammed the way Marseille was being run, saying there were too many players in the squad and that salaries were too high.

He also revealed that his suggestions of possible recruits for this season had not been followed, before insisting there would be recriminations should OM not achieve their pre-campaign targets - a top-two finish in Ligue 1 and silverware elsewhere.

The team are currently fourth in Ligue 1, four points off leaders Lyon, and still in the UEFA Cup and the Coupe de France.

Diouf and Marseille coach Eric Gerets have been left surprised at the content of Louis-Dreyfus' comments.

Diouf has even suggested he is willing to step down if the powers-that-be believe he is not doing a good enough job.

"I have been surprised by the tone and aggressiveness employed by Robert Louis-Dreyfus," he said.

"That is not like him. What he says is surprising.

"If the shareholder thinks that I am no longer in the position to fill the role of president as he sees fit, I am ready to leave."

Gerets added: "I have been unpleasantly surprised by the words of Robert Louis-Dreyfus.

"My president had the right to respond. He has done a lot of good things for OM since he has been here, on the sporting and financial side of things.

"That he (Louis-Dreyfus) breaks us up at the end of the season if we don't finish at worst second, I can understand. But I don't see the interest, for OM, of Louis-Dreyfus doing that now."

It remains to be seen whether Brandao and Sylvain Wiltord, signed by Marseille this week to improve their attacking options, were choices given the green light by Louis-Dreyfus.

Brandao, a Brazilian, completed his reported eight million euros move from Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday.

Wiltord, meanwhile, joined yesterday on a six-month deal after being released by Rennes.

Gerets believes the former France forward can bring experience and nous to the squad as well as bolster his strikeforce, which has been thin on the ground in recent weeks following injuries to Mamadou Niang and Baky Kone.

Wiltord cannot wait to get started after a difficult year and a half at Rennes.

"I can bring some joie de vivre to the dressing room," said the former Arsenal and Lyon forward, a member of France's Euro 2000-winning squad.

"OM have some very precise objectives, I know that. I will do all I can to respond to them.

"The team isn't far from second place. In four months, we can be in the Champions League."

Wiltord, who will wear the number 22 shirt vacated by Samir Nasri following his move to Arsenal last summer, said he was available to start for OM in tomorrow's Ligue 1 match at home to Le Havre.