Dolly arrives to uncertainty in Montpellier as coach ousted

Paris - Struggling Ligue 1 side Montpellier removed their coach Frederic Hantz on Monday in the wake of their 5-1 demolition by Marseille.

Hantz was "provisionally suspended" almost a year to the day after his appointment as the club conducted "an urgent review to find a solution" to their plight.

Last Friday's heavy defeat by their south-coast neighbours Marseille left them sixth from bottom, one point above the relegation zone.

Hantz has been placed on gardening leave as a mood of crisis envelops Montpellier with a club statement declaring their situation "serious".

Aside from their problems in the league they were knocked out of the French Cup this month after losing 5-0 to Lyon.

Hantz has borne the brunt of public criticism from club president Louis Nicollin, who said after the loss to Lyon: "I'm asking myself questions about the coaching. We don't have the means to sack him (Hantz) but it's up to him to do his job."

Hantz is under contract until June 2018.