Imperia Calcio Dismisses Head Coach Franco Lerda

Imperia Calcio has officially announced the dismissal of head coach Franco Lerda. The decision, confirmed by the club on November 5, 2026, marks the end of a short tenure for the manager, who had been appointed to lead the first team just last summer. The club issued a brief statement expressing gratitude to Lerda for his work over the past few months and wishing him well in his future professional endeavors.

Lerda, who was hired on August 13, 2026, managed the team for a total of 84 days. During his time in charge, he oversaw 10 Serie D league matches, recording a record of four victories, three draws, and three losses. With 15 points accumulated, the team currently sits in seventh place in the Girone A standings. Despite the mid-table position, the club opted for a change in leadership following a goalless draw in the local derby against Sanremese on November 1.

The match against Sanremese, held at the Comunale stadium, proved to be the final outing for Lerda. While the team showed signs of offensive improvement in the second half of that game, the inability to secure a win appears to have been a contributing factor in the management's decision. The result left Imperia one point outside of the playoff zone, though they remain 12 points behind the league leaders, Alessandria.

This coaching change is the second for Imperia during the current season. Before Lerda's arrival, the club had already parted ways with Giancarlo Riolfo in August, shortly before the start of the championship. While the club provided specific reasons regarding technical disagreements during the initial change, no detailed explanation was offered for the departure of Lerda, leaving the decision to be viewed strictly as a sporting adjustment.

The club now faces a tight schedule as they look to appoint a successor. Imperia is set to host Saluzzo on November 8, giving the organization only three days to organize the team under new leadership. Following the home match, the schedule continues with a series of challenging fixtures against Ligorna, Bra, and Chisola, which will be critical for the team's standing in the league as they attempt to close the gap on the playoff positions.

Franco Lerda brought significant professional experience to the Imperia bench, having previously managed clubs such as Crotone, Torino, Vicenza, Lecce, Pro Vercelli, and Potenza. His playing career also included stints with major Italian clubs like Torino, Brescia, and Napoli. As the club moves forward, the focus remains on stabilizing the squad and finding a new direction to improve upon the inconsistent results seen during the first ten matches of the season.