Bologna have sacked coach Franco Colomba just a day before they kick off their Serie A season with a home clash against champions Inter Milan.

The club initially released a statement saying president Sergio Porcedda would be present at Sunday's pre-match press conference instead of Colomba, sparking rumours that the coach had been fired.

It's a club decision, that's all. Now they will speak and then I too will have my say, calmly.
Franco Colomba, Bologna coach

Colomba, who had been in the job for less than a year, said upon leaving the club's training base: "It's a club decision, that's all. Now they will speak and then I too will have my say, calmly."

Porcedda promised that a new coach would be in place by Wednesday and said that youth team coach Paolo Magnani would take charge of the team at the Stadio Dall-Ara against Inter.

"We've come to this point to turn the page. To build a team that doesn't just think about survival, (but) building and risking," said Porcedda.

"We've spent money and bought young players. We need everyone to be 100 percent committed to the project, if this doesn't happen, it will be difficult."