Renzo Ulivieri resigned as coach of Bologna yesterday after a clash with Roberto Baggio. But the Italian Serie A club's chairman, Giuseppe Gazzoni Frascara, asked him to take 24 hours to reconsider his decision.

Ulivieri told reporters: "I can't bear the climate" after Baggio, star of two World Cups, stormed out on the eve of a home match against champions Juventus because he had been told to start the match on the substitutes' bench.

Although it was only the second time in 16 league games that Baggio has been dropped, he was reported to be bitterly disappointed at not playing against one of his former clubs.

Bologna captain Giancarlo Marocchi told reporters: "We players are all behind Ulivieri. We want to convince him to stay. We've talked with Baggio and he says that from now on he's willing to accept the bench."