Rossi was dismissed this afternoon, less than 24 hours after Palermo's 7-0 thrashing at home by Udinese.

"Palermo announces the appointment of Serse Cosmi as coach of the first team," a club statement said. "The Perugia-born coach will train the team tomorrow in Rome and will be unveiled later that day."

Sunday's shocking defeat was Palermo's third straight loss and dropped the Sicilians to eighth in the Serie A standings, with 40 points from 27 games.

Palermo have conceded 43 goals in 27 games, 12 of which have come in their last three games.

They have the second worst defence in the league behind Lecce, who have allowed 48 goals.

The heavy loss was the last straw for Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini, who had been outspoken in his criticism of Rossi's tactics for some time.

Zamparini was fuming after yesterday's loss.

"Rossi has destroyed this team," Zamparini said. "I told the coach to fix the defence and he did not.

"There is no feeling between me and Rossi.

"The team needs to react and Rossi is a good coach but his defence is one of the worst in the competition and that suggests that there is something lacking tactically."

Rossi had led Palermo to a fifth-place finish last season.

Cosmi, who left Livorno earlier this year, was Zamparini's first choice.

"Cosmi has a strong character and I'm looking for a man that sparks the team into life," Zamparini said.

Cosmi has plenty of experience having coached Perugia, Genoa, Udinese and Brescia in Serie A.

He will make his debut in Sunday's match at Lazio.

As for Rossi, he made no apologies after yesterday's hammering and insisted that he would not step down.

The coach that led Udinese to the big victory against his former club, Francesco Guidolin, spoke up for Rossi.

"The respect I have for Delio Rossi, for Palermo and this city goes well beyond the final result," he said. "It was a nasty thrashing for them, but it will pass.

"I believe it is only a bump in the road for Palermo."

But it proved to be more than just a bump for Rossi.