Guidolin recalled to guide Palermo

US Città di Palermo have made the surprise decision to reappoint coach Francesco Guidolin with two Serie A matches to play as ACF Fiorentina received a welcome boost to their UEFA Cup aspirations.

Winless run
Palermo had sacked Guidolin, 51, last month following an eleven-match winless run which culminated in a 4-3 defeat by Parma FC on 22 April. Assistant Renzo Gobbo and youth coach Rosario Pergolizzi took charge, only to see their brief tenure ended by yesterday's shock 3-2 loss to relegated Ascoli Calcio 1898. Palermo occupy seventh place with two league matches to play, three points ahead of Atalanta BC in the race for a UEFA Cup place.

'No doubts'
Fiorentina are two points and two places above the Sicilian club, and well on course to cement their return to Europe despite beginning the season with a 15-point deduction following the sporting fraud scandal in Italy. The Viola have rewarded coach Cesare Prandelli, 49, for his part in a fine season, extending his deal by three years until 2011. "We were eager to continue an important project so I had no doubts when a contract extension was proposed," he said.