Mézy end for Montpellier coach

Montpellier Hérault SC have responded to the prospect of a winter spent fighting relegation by sacking coach Michel Mézy, one of the Ligue 1 club's most famous servants.

Cup win
Mézy's fourth spell in charge ends with the southern club third-bottom of Ligue 1 after taking just two wins from 12 matches this season. Mézy, who won the French Cup with Montpellier in 1990, replaced Jean-Louis Gasset in November 1999 and following their relegation that season, led straight back up the following year.

'Freed from all commitments'
The 54-year-old, who also played for Montpellier between 1979 and 1982, is a long-term friend of Louis Nicollin, the club's chairman. Saturday's 2-2 home draw with fellow strugglers ES Troyes Aube Champagne seems to have been the final straw, for Nicollin has announced that Mézy is "freed from all commitments at the club".

Bernardet named caretaker
Former Montpellier striker Gérard Bernardet will take charge of the first team in a caretaker capacity while a successor is found. "Another coach from outside the club will be named soon," Nicollin said.

Limited budget
Mézy had to work with limited finances at Montpellier and so focused largely on developing young players. He first coached the club between 1985 and 1987, returned there in 1990 and had a third spell at the helm from 1994-98.