Di Canio quits over 'broken promises' (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

SWINDON TOWN: Di Canio quits over 'broken promises'

6:00am Tuesday 19th February 2013 in Sport By Sam Morshead

Paolo Di Canio, who has left Swindon Town

PAOLO Di Canio has resigned from his position as manager of Swindon Town.

In a statement released to the Advertiser yesterday evening, the Italian ended more than a fortnight of speculation regarding his future at the club by confirming his departure from SN1.

Di Canio originally notified the current board - that of Andrew Black - of his decision to leave the County Ground last Tuesday.

He did not take training on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday last week and only returned to continue the preparations for tomorrow’s trip to Tranmere after the prospective new owners of the club held emergency meetings with Di Canio, his agent Phil Spencer and his lawyers.

A short-term agreement was drawn up which would see him go back to work until 5pm yesterday, at which point his contract would be renegotiated with the incoming investors - providing the takeover had been ratified by the Football League.

Although that deal is expected to be completed by lunchtime today, the League had not rubber-stamped the takeover when the deadline ticked by last night, meaning the prospective new owners did not have the power to discuss the terms of Di Canio’s deal.

The Italian has been frustrated by recent events in SN1. He was left fuming at the length of time it took for Black to inject the necessary equity to lift the club out of embargo in the autumn and was further upset by the sale of Matt Ritchie to Bournemouth last month. Di Canio claimed the winger was sold behind his back.

On February 1, the ex-Town boss issued a statement to the Adver in which he revealed he was “considering his position” as manager of the Robins. Since then he has refused to be drawn on his future until yesterday’s revelations.

Part of the statement read: "It is with great regret that I find myself having to make this further press statement.

"Last Tuesday, February 12, I formally confirmed my resignation as manager of Swindon Town Football Club with immediate effect.

"In my previous press statement on February 1, I said that I was considering my future, as my position with the club had become untenable, after I found out that Matt Ritchie had been sold without my consent.

"As I had previously stated, there have been a number of broken promises made by the club over the time that I have been manager of Swindon Town. Despite these problems, I have delivered everything and more that was asked of me, by achieving promotion last year as champions and competing this season for promotion to the Championship and being just three points from top place a year earlier than expected.

"I did not resign immediately, nor publicise my resignation after I had formally confirmed it, as I did not want to jeopardise the negotiations for the sale of the club and I wanted to listen to what the proposed new owners plans were.”

Di Canio took charge of Swindon in May 2011, his first managerial appointment after a glittering playing career which included stints with Celtic, Lazio and West Ham.

He led the Robins to the League Two title in his first season, as well as a Wembley final in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

This term he has taken Town to sixth in League One and the fourth round of the Capital One Cup.

However, it has not been a full-time honeymoon for Di Canio. He was the subject of accusations of racist abuse by former loanee Jonathan Tehoue, held a very public spat with Leon Clarke and fell foul of the authorities on several occasions.

Swindon will now start the search for a new boss as they look to maintain their promotion push.

It is believed that the incoming board will look for an experienced head to guide the club for the remainder of the campaign.