Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini insists he “only fired one Coach” this season and is “the victim.”
The situation has been utter chaos since Beppe Iachini was fired in November, as Davide Ballardini came in and was fired with legal action for ‘breach of contract’ after a player coup on January 11.
The Rosanero asked Ballardini to return this evening, but he turned them down.
Palermo President Maurizio Zamparini insists he “only fired one Coach” this season and is “the victim.”
The situation has been utter chaos since Beppe Iachini was fired in November, as Davide Ballardini came in and was fired with legal action for ‘breach of contract’ after a player coup on January 11.
The Rosanero asked Ballardini to return this evening, but he turned them down.
“I did not fire Ballardini, it was a paradoxical situation,” insisted Zamparini on Sportitalia. “We had a very big argument.
“I was fired from my own functions, because I didn’t sack anyone. I only fired one Coach this season and that was Iachini in November.
“I got rid of him because the team wasn’t delivering. After that I did not sack Ballardini. He wanted to change the goalkeeper without my authorisation due to a disagreement with Stefano Sorrentino, our captain. I told the Coach that their problems should be resolved within the locker room.”
Sorrentino effectively made Ballardini’s position untenable, as he went on live television and declared the Coach had not spoken to the team before, during or after their final game together.
“I then targeted Guillermo Schelotto, but he didn’t have the right certificate to be a Serie A Coach,” continued Zamparini.
“We went through UEFA to get permission, but I received a call from his agent telling me he would not return on the bench.
“I didn’t fire anyone, the Coaches all left by themselves. At that point I called Iachini to ask if he wanted to come back. Iachini said yes.”
Iachini returned in February, but today resigned after a row with Zamparini and the club is desperately trying to talk him out of it.
“I always exchanged ideas with my Coaches, because I think that I understand football and believe decisions should be shared, though naturally I am not the one who makes the line-up,” continued the President.
“We were seven points clear of Frosinone when he arrived, now the gap is one point. I confirmed I didn’t like Palermo’s attitude, as for example Carpi and Frosinone give their heart and soul in every game.
“Today’ worried by the situation, I met the players in Palermo and spoke to them all individually, then talked to the Coach, as I needed to understand the mood in the locker room.
“I realised the team was uneasy. I told Iachini maybe he should change system and he replied that he didn’t want to keep reading certain things in the papers.
“At that moment he said he’d resign and I asked Sorrentino to convince him to take it back, even if he seemed determined. I rejected his resignation and I want him to be back training tomorrow.”
Does Zamparini think perhaps he went a bit overboard with some of his criticism, for example calling Iachini an ‘idiot’ on radio today?
“I said certain things to try and fire up the team. Journalists said similar things too. This week I’ll resign, because I’m fed up.
“The players must go to Napoli to win. With my shake-ups I’ve got some great results. I am the victim here. I only fired one Coach this season. Bologna changed Delio Rossi with Roberto Donadoni and got wonderful results.”
A fan urged Zamparini to quit instead, because he was dragging the club towards relegation.
“It was only one fan. I still believe our team belongs in the top half of the table. Today I tried to motivate the team and everything that happened today was not meant to end up in the papers.
“The fans admire me. I am 75 years old and in June I will leave. I might even quit next week. Around three months ago I asked Giovanni Trapattoni if he wanted to be President of Palermo. He said no, but I think I have the solution in mind.
“This person will replace me and I will step aside. I don’t like being told that I am getting Palermo relegated. I have to be a businessman only and put someone else in my role.”