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BALLARDINI OUT OF HAMMERS RUNNING
Zamparini - made sudden coaching change.
Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini admits he made a sudden coaching change on Thursday because he feared the man he wanted to lead his team was about to take a job elsewhere.
Zamparini sacked Stefano Colantuono and appointed Davide Ballardini following the Sicilian team's 3-1 defeat at Udinese in their Serie A opener on Saturday.
Ballardini, the former Cagliari coach, was linked in the Italian press with a move to English Premier League outfit West Ham United, whose manager, Alan Curbishley, resigned on Wednesday.
"Only yesterday, after two days contemplating, I decided to change the coach because the manager I wanted had been contacted by another club and I would have lost him," said Zamparini.
"I don't know if this will be a successful move but I took the decision on the spur of the moment.
"After the defeat in Udine, I wasn't convinced by the coach and his staff.
"The club's sporting director Walter Sabatini only found out the decision this morning. He was slightly angry but in my house I take the decisions.
"I take full responsibility for this coaching change and I ask the fans to get behind the team, which is a strong side."
Ballardini will take charge of Palermo for the first time when they host Roma on September 14.
Thursday's move marks the second time Colantuono has been sacked by Zamparini at Palermo. He guided the Rosaneri last season for three months before being dismissed in November, only to be reinstated in May.
The club confirmed the decision in a statement earlier on Thursday which read: "Palermo have dismissed coach Stefano Colantuono. Davide Ballardini will guide the team from today's training session."
Colantuono's sacking should come as no surprise as Zamparini is not renowned for his patience. He has now fired 27 coaches during his time in the game.
The Sicilian club endured a frustrating summer in the transfer market having missed out on their top target, Brazilian striker Nilmar, following protracted negotiations.
The inactivity has translated itself into apathy among the supporters with only 16,000 season tickets sold, much to Zamparini's annoyance.
He said: "It's not a case of money but of support for the team.
"Had I built a team like that of Reggina, the Palermo citizens would have been right but I expected at least 23,000 season tickets for what I have spent.
"It's not possible that a city like Palermo only has 16,000 season ticket holders.
"At Napoli, [when they were] in Serie C, there were 60,000 season ticket holders and even Reggina has more than we do."
