Palermo have sacked coach Francesco Guidolin - ending his fourth spell at the club - in the wake of the 3-2 home defeat by Genoa at the weekend.

He will be replaced by former boss Stefano Colantuono.

A statement on the club's website read: "Palermo, having looked at the situation through the board, have realised, in the light of recent events, that conditions don't exist to sustain faith in Francesco Guidolin who therefore, from today, has been relieved of his post as first team coach.

"The responsibility will be passed to Stefano Colantuono who will lead tomorrow afternoon's training and will meet the press at the end."

Guidolin fell foul of controversial club president Maurizio Zamparini in the wake of the defeat to Genoa, after which he complained about his team having to play in a "hellish atmosphere".

His outburst was followed by an official statement from Palermo in which they sought to defend their fans: "These comments gave an ungenerous and distorted view of the fans who, despite the disappointing course of the campaign, continue to cheer on their team aside from the odd sporadic and civil manifestation of dissent."

Guidolin's dismissal marks the third time in a year that he has been relieved of his duties by the Sicilian club.

He was sacked last April, re-hired two defeats later and then sacked again at the end of the season, and when Guidolin returned to Palermo in November the man he replaced was Colantuono.

Former Atalanta coach Colantuono's first game in charge will be an away match at Napoli at the weekend.

"I'm happy to return to the Palermo bench and I'll give my all to do well," Colantuono told La Gazzetta dello Sport's website.

"We'll try to lift Palermo up again and I'll do everything to finish the season well."

After an impressive fifth-placed finish in Serie A last season, the Rosanero are currently in 12th place with 36 points from 30 games.

Tom Williams / Eurosport