Montpellier to build new stadium

Montpellier mayor Philippe Saurel confirmed to AFP that local authorities are "working on the project of a new football stadium" that will be ready by 2020 or 2021.

The planned stadium will be majority owned by the local government, which is working on a budget of up to 130 million euros (£103m; $149m) for its construction.

Montpellier, who won the Ligue 1 title for the first time in their history in 2012 and are set to finish this season in mid-table, currently play at the 35,000-seat Stade de la Mosson.

It has been the club's home for more than 40 years and hosted matches at the 1998 World Cup, but average gates this season are under 13,000 and the stadium has been deemed no longer fit for purpose as it is "extremely susceptible to flooding".

Storms in late 2014 led to the ground being shut for several months, forcing Montpellier to play their games at the city's rugby stadium.