Relegation threatened Livorno dismiss Nicola

Livorno sit 19th in the Italian top flight following four straight league defeats, the latest coming in the form of a 3-0 home loss to Parma on Saturday.

The Tuscany outfit have won just three league games all season under Nicola, losing 12 of their 19 Serie A encounters so far.

And, after president Aldo Spinelli admitted that he was considering Nicola's position, the club have now parted company with the 40-year-old, who guided Livorno to promotion from Serie B last term in his first season in charge.

A statement on Livorno's official website read: "AS Livorno Calcio announces that it has dismissed Davide Nicola as first-team coach.

"The club extends its warmest thanks to the coach for his commitment, professionalism and dedication."

Technical director Attilio Perotti, who salvaged the club's second-tier status in the 2011-12 season, could be set to return to the dugout after Spinelli expressed an unwillingness to appoint anybody from outside the club.

Livorno will start life after Nicola on Saturday with a trip to title challengers Roma.