Novellino back in charge of Torino

Walter Novellino has been reappointed as coach of Torino FC after Gianni De Biasi was dismissed in the wake of the side's 4-1 defeat at home to ACF Fiorentina on Sunday.

Three-hour meeting
The Granata have slipped to fourth from bottom in Serie A after drawing one and losing three of their past four matches, and are now just one point above the relegation zone. In order to halt the slide Torino president Urbano Cairo held a three-hour meeting with sporting director Mauro Pederzoli and team captain Eugenio Corini on Sunday, and the decision was taken to sack the former Levante UD coach and replace him with 55-year-old Novellino, who was still under contract with Torino after being dismissed in April.

Promotion success
Novellino's coaching successess include gaining promotion from Serie B with AC Venezia, SSC Napoli, Piacenza FC and UC Sampdoria, who he led to the top flight in 2002/03 then into the UEFA Cup following a fifth-place finish in 2004/05. It is the second time Novellino has replaced De Biasi as Torino coach, having previously taken the helm in June 2006 for a brief ten-month stint. Torino next play Bologna FC away on Saturday.