Sunderland sack Paolo di Canio
The Italian replaced Martin O’Neil at the tail end of last season but with just one point from five matches this season the former Celtic and West Ham favourite is the first Premiership manager top be sacked.
Di Canio made an immediate impact at Sunderland by winning 3-0 away to Newcastle and steering the club away from relegation.
Despite being given money to spend in the summer Sunderland have had a troubled start to the season with di Canio highly critical of the players.
After the final game of last season, on the day Phil Bardsley had been pictured drunk in a casino covered in £50 notes, di Canio said: “That is something really wrong. It’s disgusting me even to see the image for the club.
‘It’s not about going out with your friend and getting back at two o’clock or three o’clock, which is late. You can close one eye. But not full of alcohol and walking like this. They have to behave well.
‘There is no excuse to behave like he (Bardsley) did. From now I will be more strict because we have to improve our professionalism.
“In a week I have given seven players fines. It’s not acceptable. I thought at Swindon in League Two, arrogant, ignorant footballers in some way don’t know (the score) exactly because they’ve not had many chances at the top level.
!I have to tell you I have found a worse environment in terms of discipline at this club. Will they play again for the club? No. Not under me.”
A brief statement from the club tonight read: “Sunderland AFC confirms that it has parted company with head coach Paolo Di Canio this evening.
“Kevin Ball will take charge of the squad ahead of Tuesday night’s Capital One Cup game against Peterborough United and an announcement will be made in due course regarding a permanent successor.
“The club would like to place on record its thanks to Paolo and his staff and wishes them well for the future.”
After watching his side lose 3-0 at West Brom yesterday di Canio said: “The team, not intentionally, have not gelled together yet but that is normal.
“It is a natural process and it is difficult. We have made many changes, we have 14 new players from many countries.
“It is obvious one day if we keep going lose, lose, lose there will be a natural consequences, not only for Paolo di Canio.
“I don’t think they will want to keep Paolo di Canio, they will probably want to change. But I don’t think that now.
“Even if you see you are 10th in the table in this league someone can sack you because maybe they expect more.
“It is our job but I am not worried about that. I am worried about the result because obviously we want to deliver different results. I know it’s difficult.”
Tonight, after 13 games and 3 wins at the club, di Canio was sacked by Sunderland.