Livorno on Monday sacked coach Davide Nicola two days after the Serie A strugglers' seventh defeat in eight games left them second bottom of the table.

Nicola becomes the second coaching casualty of the day in Italy, and eighth this season, following the sacking of AC Milan handler Massimiliano Allegri.

Livorno released a statement which said: "The club wishes to announce the immediate dismissal of Davide Nicola as coach of the first team.

"We would like to thank the coach for his commitment, professionalism and dedication to the job."

Nicola, who during his playing career featured only one season in Serie A, for Siena, steered Livorno to promotion from Serie B to Italy's top flight last season.

However Saturday's 3-0 defeat at home to Parma effectively sealed his fate when it left the side with 13 points from 19 games.

The Tuscan club have yet to name a successor although Attilio Perotti, who previously coached Livorno in Serie B, is being rumoured to take over.