Struggling Serie A side Bologna have replaced head coach Stefano Pioli with Davide Ballardini less than a day after dismissing the former boss.

The club said in a statement that Ballardini had been given a short-term contract until the end of the season to try to get the club away from relegation danger.

"Bologna announces that in light of our latest disappointing results, the club has been forced to dismiss coach Stefano Pioli," the statement read. "We want to thank Pioli and his staff for the work done in the past few years.

"[The club] announces that it has entrusted the technical guidance of the first team to Davide Ballardini, who has signed a contract until June 30, 2014," read a new statement just a few hours later.

Ballardini has been in charge of Cagliari, Palermo and Lazio among others throughout his career.