ITALIAN coach Davide Ballardini will not be taking over the Hammers hot-seat as he has opted to join Sicilian club Palermo instead.
The former Cagliari coach had been linked with the vacant managers post at Upton Park due his friendship with West Ham's technical director Gianluca Nani.
The bookmakers even made him second favourite to succeed Alan Curbishley behind former player and Crotian manager Slaven Bilic.
Ballardini now takes over the reigns at Parlemo following the sacking of Stefano Colantuono after the club's 2-2 draw on the opening day of Serie A.
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