Montpellier and Jean-Louis Gasset Agree to Part Ways as Relegation Looms

Montpellier HSC and manager Jean-Louis Gasset have reached a mutual agreement to end their collaboration. This decision comes as the club finds itself in a precarious position, teetering on the brink of relegation from Ligue 1.

The team’s current situation is bleak, with Montpellier anchored at the bottom of the league table. Despite Gasset’s efforts since taking over from Michel Der Zakarian earlier in the season, the club has failed to improve its standing. With an 11-point gap separating them from Stade de Reims, who occupy the relegation play-off spot, Gasset had previously expressed that there was “no hope” for the team’s survival in the top flight.

The writing was on the wall following a series of unfortunate events. A match against AS Saint-Étienne in mid-March was abandoned and later awarded to the opposition. This incident sparked initial rumors of Gasset’s departure, but a meeting with club leadership temporarily quelled such speculation.

However, Sunday’s 2-0 defeat to Le Havre AC proved to be the final straw. In the aftermath of this loss, Gasset remarked that the club “had to stop believing,” signaling a surrender to the team’s fate. This defeat appears to have been the catalyst for the mutual decision to part ways.

As Montpellier prepares for life in Ligue 2, it remains unclear who will guide the team through the remainder of the season. The club now faces the challenging task of rebuilding and planning for a future in the second tier of French football.