Rennes sack Montanier, name Courbis as head coach

French football club Rennes sacked coach Philippe Montanier and appointed former Montpellier manager Rolland Courbis until the end of the season.

The Breton-outfit made the decision just one day after they were dumped out of the French Cup Round of 32 by Ligue 2 side Bourg-en-Bress. Last month, Montainier's team also bowed out of the League Cup after losing to Ligue 1 rivals Toulouse 3-1 on December 15 in a last 16 game at home, reports Xinhua.

Montainier said that he was "ashamed" for the club and the fans after watching his side lose 1-3.

Rennes president Rene Ruello met the former Real Sociedad and Valenciennes boss on Wednesday morning and informed him that his time at the club had come to an end. Montainier took charge of Rennes in 2013 and extended his contract until 2019 after leading the team to ninth in Ligue 1 last summer.

The side, which is sixth in the league standings with five points behind second placed Monaco after losing only four games this season, has won only two of the 10 home games in Ligue 1.

Courbis resigned as Montpellier coach during the Christmas break while having complained about "nervous fatigue", and was hired by Rennes last week as a special advisor to Ruello.