Donadoni set for chop
Tuesday 7 February, 2006
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After losing the backing of President Aldo Spinelli, Livorno Coach Roberto Donadoni appears to be on the verge of leaving the club.
Spinelli launched an astonishing public attack on his team tactician, following their 2-2 draw with Messina on Sunday, and it has now emerged that Donadoni has not today travelled to Ascoli with his side for tomorrow night’s Serie A match.
Donadoni is said to be locked in talks over his future with the club’s directors, with his imminent departure looking increasingly likely, with assistant Coach Mario Bortolazzi having taken temporary charge of the Tuscan outfit.
Spinelli accused Donadoni of poor decision-making after Sunday’s match before hinting that his position is in danger. “Sunday’s result is his fault,” he said. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do about it.”
After taking a 2-0 lead against Messina, Arturo Di Napoli scored two late penalties – the last of them coming in stoppage time – to square the match at 2-2 and leave Livorno without a win in six matches.
“On Sunday he had a disastrous match, just like the referee,” he said. “In my opinion that defeat - because that was a defeat - is the Coach’s fault.
“Let’s be clear about it - the substitutions, some of the changes…” he tailed off. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do about it.”
The outburst is an extraordinary reaction to a tactician who has performed miracles on a shoestring budget this season.
Only three weeks ago the Amaranto were in fifth place and within touching distance of a Champions League spot.
Since an away win at Sampdoria on January 8, though, four draws and a defeat have seen Livorno slip to sixth, four points behind resurgent Roma and four ahead of Chievo and Lazio.
However, Spinelli was talking in ominous tones last night, suggesting that Donadoni - who has been touted as Carlo Ancelotti’s eventual successor at Milan - is living on borrowed time.
“From now until Thursday I hope that Donadoni matures and that these things pass,” he continued. “His choices and all the other things have made me think seriously.”
The Livorno tactician now finds his side fighting for his job in what has become a crunch away trip to Ascoli on Wednesday night, while speculation suggests Carlo Mazzone as the man already being lined up as a possible replacement for the former Milan and Italy midfielder.
Roberto Rosetti and Marco Ivaldi, who officiated Livorno’s match against Messina, have been struck off the list for this week’s matches for their poor decision-making during the game.
Rosetti awarded two penalties to the Sicilian side in the last 11 minutes – one of which was for a handball that appeared to clearly take place well outside of the penalty area.
Assistant referee Ivaldi had also been removed from the list of officials drawn up to work at the World Cup Finals this summer.
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How stupid is this! He was awesome with Livorno.
Milan his next destination? He's a very talented coach and has a Milan background. Would be an excellent choice for them IMO.
j/k 
hes gone.
