Skip to content

Sunderland: No manager shortlist to replace sacked Paolo Di Canio

Image: Paolo Di Canio has already packed up his belongings

Sky Sports understands that Sunderland have yet to draw up a shortlist of contenders to replace sacked manager Paolo Di Canio.

The club confirmed on Sunday evening that they had "parted company" with Di Canio but it is understood that Saturday's 3-0 loss, which saw the Italian face up to angry fans at the whistle, and a subsequent meeting forced Stadium of Light chiefs to act. A statement on the club's official website 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." Former Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn believes Di Canio's feisty management style may have cost him his job. Quinn has described the decision as "brave" and told Sky Sports News: "It's a quick decision - some will say too quick. "They're making a quick decision on this again and looking back, the support Paolo Di Canio got in the summer with the players he brought in, I honestly thought he was going to get longer, no matter the start. "If we start to peel the layers off in the coming days and find out what life was like under him from various players, you'll probably see a story that says this was a guy who did things in a totally unique way and by the looks of things, the players weren't buying into it. "They've made a very brave decision to appoint him, they got what they wanted out of him, and now they've made a brave decision (for him) to go. "It wouldn't have been my style. I think I would probably have tried to give people as much time as possible. "Something tells me there's a little more to it as well. "It was perhaps they felt that the players were finding it hard to conform to his unique style. I think that might have played a part in it as well. "They've made such a brave decision now. Will it pay off for them?"

Around Sky