Davide Ballardini replaces Giuseppe Iachini as head coach of Serie A side Palermo

Serie A outfit Palermo have appointed Davide Ballardini as their new head coach after relieving Giuseppe Iachini of his duties.

Iachini has been replaced despite guiding the Sicilian outfit to their first win in four matches on Sunday against Chievo.

The Rosanero are 13th in Italy's top league with 14 points from 12 matches this season.

In a statement this morning, Palermo said: "The club wishes to thank Iachini for his achievements in the past two seasons and wish him the best of luck for the future."

Iachini guided Palermo to promotion to Serie A in his first season in charge before achieving an 11th-place finish last term.

Ballardini, meanwhile, has been out of work since leaving Bologna last year and returns to Palermo after coaching the Rosanero between 2008 and 2009.