Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has pulled the trigger and sacked coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Defeat to little Novara last night was the final straw for Moratti, who announced Gasperini's dismissal this morning.

Before the announcement, Moratti told reporters: "When you lose 3-1 it is hard to be satisfied by anything, but I do not think it is a problem of rapport with the players.

"Alternatives? I have not yet thought about that."

Free agents Claudio Ranieri, Gianfranco Zola and Delio Rossi have all been mentioned, along with England coach Fabio Capello and Italy technical chief Roberto Baggio.