Sacking Claudio Ranieri was the "last resort" in a bid to halt Juventus' slide down the Serie A table, according to general manager Jean Claude Blanc.
The former Chelsea manager was dismissed after just under two years in charge of Italy's record champions today due to a dip in form which has jeopardized their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League next season.
Ciro Ferrara has been placed in charge for the final two games of the season in which Blanc hopes a positive reaction will be evident.
"We have taken this decision as a last resort when the team is not playing well," explained Blanc at a hastily-arranged press conference in Turin this evening.
"We are convinced that this will deliver a clear message to the players: these final two games are fundamental and need to be played to the very best of their ability.
"Everybody has got to take responsibility."
Ranieri has ultimately paid the price for a decline which commenced shortly after Juve's elimination from the Champions League at the hands of Chelsea in March.
Although they won their subsequent two games, both by an emphatic 4-1 scoreline against Bologna and Roma, they have failed to pick up maximum points in a game since and also exited the Coppa Italia at the semi-final stage with home and away defeats by Lazio.
Those seven games without a win have seen the Bianconeri slide out of the race for the title and run the risk of missing out on an automatic qualifying berth for the Champions League next season.
Ranieri's former side Fiorentina, whom he led to Coppa Italia success in 1996, have narrowed the gap on third-placed Juve to just a single point.
Cracks between Ranieri and the team became visible when Alessandro Del Piero and Mauro Camoranesi were substituted at half-time in the recent 2-2 home draw with Lecce.
Strong words flew in the dressing room with goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon storming out to return to the field after only a few minutes of the interval.
David Trezeguet, meanwhile, has not seen eye to eye with Ranieri for weeks, which explains his exclusion from the team despite having recovered from the injury which had kept him out since July.
Ranieri yesterday said that he would be told if he was "no longer wanted" after two years in charge, and less than 24 hours later, the club's management obliged.
"After the recent results, we find ourselves just one point ahead of Fiorentina and that is why we have decided, evaluating the whole season, to relieve Claudio Ranieri of his duties," added Blanc.
"It was a decision shared overwhelmingly by the whole club.
"We now want to end the season well and finish at least third because we have got to get into the Champions League without having to play in the preliminary rounds."
Ferrara was asked to take over last night and will remain in charge of the team until the end of the month.
"After that, we will have to evaluate what to do," explained Blanc.
"For the time being, he is the only coach of Juventus and the future is these two games. That is all.
"Ferrara made himself available late last night and I thank him for it. It will not be an easy mission for him."
Ferrara will certainly have the full backing of the club's supporters - something Ranieri could rarely claim to have received - after being a firm fans' favorite during over a decade as a player for the Bianconeri.
This is his first role as a club coach having previously worked as Marcelo Lippi's right-hand man with Italy and he hopes to turn around the club's fortunes over the next fortnight.
"We have two cup finals ahead and we have decided to play this ace that we had up our sleeves," he said.
"Now it is up to the squad to demonstrate that the work they have done this year can be concluded in the right way."
Juventus travel to Siena at the weekend before hosting Lazio on the final day of the season at the Stadio Olimpico.
Only two wins from those games can guarantee Juventus a place in the group stage of the Champions League next season.
