Paolo Di Canio to make his Premier League return? (video)
Paolo Di Canio last week made a fiery departure from his post as manager of League One side Swindon Town sparking rumour that the Italian is in line for a return to the Premier League as boss of his beloved West Ham United.
Di Canio leaves Swindon Town top of League One and set for their second consecutive promotion after Di Canio guided the Robins out of League Two in his first full season in management.
The Italian’s departure comes amid uncertainty over the future of the club who are currently in the midst of a takeover bid. Di Canio cited “a number of broken promises made by the club” as the reason for his exit which may have been brought to a head by the sale of winger Matt Ritchie to Bournemouth, which Di Canio claimed he was not consulted on.
Last Thursday evening the ever-colourful character is believed to have broken into the Country Ground with his backroom staff to salvage mementos of his tenure at Swindon, prompting the club to change the locks at the stadium.
This appears to be yet another controversial action of the Italian boss during his time at Swindon. After just seven games in charge, Di Canio was caught on camera in an altercation with striker Leon Clarke following a home defeat to Southampton. Clarke was told by Di Canio that he would never play under him again and was subsequently sent out on loan.
This season, Di Canio branded goalkeeper Wes Foderingham “the worst professional I have ever seen” after the keeper’s reaction to being substituted only 21 minutes in following an error against Preston.
West Ham chairman David Gold potentially undermined the position of his manager Sam Allardyce after re-tweeting Hammers fans’ pleas to replace Allardyce with cult hero Di Canio following his departure from Swindon.
Gold appeared to address Allardyce’s fears in the Sun on Friday by claiming that his job is safe: “I want to make this clear: There is no managerial vacancy for Paolo or anyone else at the club. There is no job available.“
However Gold recently admitted that he and fellow chairman David Sullivan will not discuss a new contract with Allardyce until West Ham’s Premier League status has been guaranteed, opening the door for a potential summer move for Di Canio.
Di Canio’s departure from Swindon will come as bad news for Allardyce as Hammers’ fans are likely to increase pressure on the board for the Italian’s appointment should Allardyce be unable at arrest West Ham’s form which has seen them slide to within just 7 points of the Premier League relegation zone.
Both West Ham supporters and neutral fans will hope for the return of Di Canio to England’s top flight in the near future. Di Canio has been one of the most entertaining and notorious figures throughout the history of the Premier League providing several memorable moments which have included pushing over referee Paul Alcock, requesting to be substituted after being denied a penalty and winning the Goal of the Season award in 2000 for a sublime hitch-kick volley against Wimbledon.
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