Former Arsenal, Chelsea, and England defender Ashley Cole is reportedly set to lose his position as head coach of Serie B club Cesena after managing only eight matches. His brief and troubled spell in charge, which ended with the team missing out on the play-offs, is expected to conclude when his short-term contract expires at the end of the month, marking a bitter end to his first managerial experience in Italy.

A tough beginning in Serie B

Cole took charge of Cesena in mid-March, replacing Michele Mignani as the club pursued a place in the promotion play-offs. However, his introduction to full-time management quickly turned disastrous. As reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport, the 45-year-old will depart the Italian side when his contract runs out on June 30.

During his short spell at the helm, Cole oversaw just one win, three draws, and four defeats in eight matches, which resulted in an 11th-place finish. The decision to remove Mignani had already been widely criticised, leaving the former England international with the difficult task of convincing a sceptical fanbase and a disheartened squad.

Supporter backlash and internal reshuffle

The move to appoint Cole was primarily influenced by Californian co-owner Mike Melby, who had previously worked with him at LA Galaxy. However, Cesena supporters never embraced their new manager. Fans displayed open opposition to his appointment, even unfurling a banner that read: "Ashley Cole? No, thanks." With ownership undergoing internal restructuring, newly appointed sporting director Andrea Mancini has been instructed to identify a more fitting coach. The club’s leadership has effectively decided to part ways with the under-pressure manager, recognising the extent of public dissatisfaction. Although some board members initially entertained the idea of offering Cole a surprise contract extension, the growing unrest forced them to completely abandon that plan.

Searching for a new manager

As Cesena prepare for life after Cole, the club’s management have confirmed that they are taking a deliberate and structured approach to appointing a new head coach. Director general Corrado Di Taranto addressed the issue publicly two days ago, quelling any speculation about retaining Cole. He explained: "Andrea Mancini is working methodically and carefully on every nuance, scrupulously evaluating every profile available, precisely because this choice deserves the necessary time to be the right one, and not simply the quickest or the most reassuring." According to reports, Emanuele Troise and Stefano Vecchi are among the main contenders, indicating a preference for managers with proven experience in Italy’s challenging lower leagues.

What lies ahead for Cesena and Cole?

Cesena have reportedly paused preliminary talks with Guido Pagliuca as they broaden their search for a dependable new manager ahead of pre-season. Meanwhile, Cole faces a period of reflection after a deeply disappointing start to his coaching journey in Italy. The Chelsea great may look to take on another assistant coaching role as he seeks to rebuild his damaged managerial reputation and gain further experience in the dugout.