Serie A - Hammers target takes Palermo reins

Eurosport - Thu, 04 Sep 13:12:00 2008

Davide Ballardini is out of the running for the West Ham job after being named Palermo boss following the sacking of coach Stefano Colantuono.

2008 Davide Ballardini - 0

Former Cagliari boss Ballardini had been heavily linked with the vacant post at Upton Park due to his close friendship with Hammers' technical director Gianluca Nani and was even rated as the second favourite with the bookmakers behind Slaven Bilic.

Colantuono was given his marching orders by the Sicilian club just one game into the season - the 2-2 draw at Siena on Sunday.

The club said in a statement: "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 Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini is not renowned for his patience. He has now fired 27 coaches during his time in the game.

Colantuono has already experienced his wrath after being dismissed by Zamparini in November after three months in charge only to be reinstated in May.

Palermo 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, in Serie C, there were 60,000 season ticket holders and even Reggina has more than we do."

Ballardini will take charge of Palermo for the first time when they host Roma on September 14.

Sporting Life / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 10 of 10

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. i agree with matt.g,an english manager would be great for the club,but it just ain't gonna happen,but please dont waste our funds on keegan,stuart pearce would be my choice,but unfortunatly i dont hold the purse strings.UP THE 'AMMERS.

    From alan, on Thu 4 Sep 9:28PM

  2. would any stranger with a few billion to spare please come and take over the reins at upton park,we deserve a bit of luck for a change,get rid of the owners get someone new in,gone off biscuits and fish fingers since the icelanders took over

    From alan, on Thu 4 Sep 9:22PM

  3. I THINK STUART PEARCE WOULD BE FANTASTIC NOT SLAVEN BILLIC OR ARRY.

    From fincham.andrew, on Thu 4 Sep 2:23PM

  4. Championship next season maybe these foreigners will lose interest then.

    Harry Redknapp was seen in Chigwell yesterday having lunch with Mervyn Day in the BAlD HIND....

    From Grenadier Guards, on Thu 4 Sep 1:14PM

  5. Harry Redknapp was seen in Green Street by mt Brother who's a copper

    From Grenadier Guards, on Thu 4 Sep 1:12PM

  6. Hey Matthew G, Glenn Roeder knows the club, what do ya think???

    From Paul, on Thu 4 Sep 12:58PM

  7. I don't think Curbs was a dynamic motivator of players and does not seem to receive a lot of respect from them. I don't believe it reflects well on the club management the way he went and the reasons, I hope he gets compensation for constuctive dismissal they lied to him, so they will think nothing of lieing to the fans. Bye Curbs not sorry to see you go but don't like the circumstances. Roll on the Championship next year, then what will the Icelanders do?

    From jammycritter, on Thu 4 Sep 12:55PM

  8. The big money is on Mancini on a 2 year deal with Di Canio as assistant manager. Di Canio was seen at Upton Park this morning.

    From mark.winter, on Thu 4 Sep 12:31PM

  9. Best thing for West Ham

    The Hammers need someone who knows the club inside out.

    Be it Harry Redknapp or Slaven Bilic not someone who is the friend of a friend of a friend.

    Who ever it is will need to be there own man and stand up to the board.

    Personally as a Hammers fan I would like to see a young English manager but I doubt it very much.

    From Matthew G, on Thu 4 Sep 12:26PM

  10. ?

    From chris_edward_smith, on Thu 4 Sep 12:24PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account