Marvin O’Connor obviously had it big. The former Clermont player made a very virulent tweet towards his former manager Christophe Urios, after ASM’s new big defeat against Stade Français on Saturday evening (6-36). Published at 12:21 a.m. and still online on Sunday at midday, this message congratulates (ironically) the Clermontois coach, recently extended until 2027, plus an optional year, by his leaders despite a checkered start to the season .
“Nice performance my Christophe again. 450 points conceded away and you re-sign. You’re a genius,” writes the 33-year-old former winger, who briefly played for Stade Français (2017-18) and has been retired from the field since last summer. “You seem to really get everyone on board Einstein, not a single one of your super soldiers can prick your bullet hole (sic),” O’Connor continued, ending his message with heart emojis.
Public insults uttered by a professional player towards his ex-coach in public, the situation is unusual. Reached by telephone late Sunday morning, O’Connor did not wish to elaborate on his message. Former Top 14 referenced winger, notably with Grenoble, Bayonne and Montpellier, the latter joined ASM in July 2021. After a successful first season in 2021-22, he played less the following season with five matches played… until until January 21, 2023.
Urios, a criticized but prolonged manager
The date of his last professional match to date, on the Stormers pitch in the Champions Cup, but also the last match played by ASM before Christophe Urios took office, effective just after this match. In other words, Marvin O’Connor was never used by the ex-Castres manager in a year and a half of living together. Contacted on Sunday, the latter has not yet responded to our request.
On the other hand, its president Jean-Claude Pats published a press release at midday on Sunday in which he condemned the “unacceptable” comments of his former player. “ I cannot tolerate anyone publicly attacking and smearing the club or one of its members, he explains. In his message Marvin O’Connor brings out his frustration inherited from the past. Christophe did not need social networks to tell him in June 2023 that he would not count on him and that he suggested, for the good of his career, that he look for a new club. He did not wish to do so, preferring to capitalize on his last year of contract, with full knowledge of the facts and without the hope of playing. It was his right, it is ours to defend our club from a frustrated ex-player. »
Before concluding: “One of the values of our club is respect, we are fundamentally very attached to it. » Manager renowned for his results at Oyonnax (which he promoted to the Top 14 and qualified in the final stages) and Castres (champion in 2018) then for the quality of his game at Bordeaux-Bègles (established at the top of the table) , Urios is also a divisive man whose methods are sometimes criticized and who does not hesitate to criticize his own players. For example, he had alienated a good part of his locker room before his departure from UBB in 2022. His extension in Auvergne, effective this week, is not unanimous among supporters.
Almost two years after his signing in Clermont, the results are indeed average. Deprived of final stages during the last two seasons, ASM is currently sixth with 19 points. And if it is for the moment intractable at home, the Auvergne club cannot manage it away, with four defeats and at least 33 points conceded each time.
