Contract clause saves Filippo Inzaghi from the sack at high-flying Brescia

Inzaghi could lead Brescia to the top of Serie B on Sunday but the manager has faced extraordinary levels of disruption to his preparations after the club reportedly tried to sack him, only to be stopped by a contract clause. The Lombardy team head into their clash with relegation battling visitors Alessandria at the Stadio Rigamonti in third place, two points off top spot. Slip-ups from leaders Lecce and second-placed Pisa at home to Benevento and Ternana respectively could see Inzaghi’s side take pole position in the battle for promotion.

However, a contract clause that protects the former AC Milan great from being dismissed while his side are in the top eight is reportedly the only reason he is still in a job. Inzaghi, who joined Brescia in the close season, oversaw a 0-0 draw at lowly Cosenza on Saturday. It left the Rondinelle in a strong position but by Sunday media reports had emerged saying club president Massimo Cellino had decided to fire Inzaghi after falling out with the coach.

Uruguayan Diego Lopez, still under contract at the club until June after two short spells in charge in 2020, was lined up as his replacement. UNBRIDGEABLE GAPThe situation came to a head on Tuesday, when Cellino spoke about Inzaghi in an interview with Italian news website notizie.com, saying: “The distance between our viewpoints was unbridgeable”. But by the afternoon, Brescia had performed a U-turn.

Reports said that Inzaghi was protected by the clause while in the top eight, and sporting director Francesco Marroccu held a news conference to discuss the matter. “We never officially sacked Inzaghi. We are just weighing up his sacking,” he said.