Rome - Struggling Serie A side Torino have fired coach Gianni De Biasi and called back Walter Novellino, who was still under contract with the Turin club since his dismissal in April.

Torino fired Novellino, 55, with five games left to the end of the 2007-2008 season. He began coaching in 1992 after a good career as offensive midfielder with the same Torino, AC Milan, Perugia and Catania.

De Biasi, 52, managed to avert relegation in the past season, but had a very bad start in the current one. His firing follows a 4-1 beating suffered at home to Fiorentina at the weekend.

Torino have 12 points from 15 games, lying level with third-from-last Reggina in the relegation zone.

Torino are the fourth Serie A club to change coach after Palermo, Chievo and Bologna (dpa)