Rolland Courbis will take over from Jean Fernandez as Montpellier coach, the Ligue 1 club announced on Saturday.

"Rolland Courbis is to join the club on Monday," Montpellier said on their website (www.mhscfoot.com).

Fernandez quit on Thursday after a 2-0 home defeat by Lorient a day earlier left the club fourth from bottom in Ligue 1.

Former Montpellier player and assistant coach Pascal Baills had been named coach on a caretaker basis.

Courbis, a Montpellier coach from 2007-09, also had spells at Olympique Marseille, Girondins Bordeaux, RC Lens and AC Ajaccio.

The 60-year-old was sentenced to two years in prison in 2007 for his role in financial irregularities relating to transfer deals at Olympique Marseille. He spent seven months behind bars.

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