PAOLO Di Canio plans to put talks on his long-term future on hold until promotion to League One is assured.

Interim chairman Jeremy Wray sat down with Di Canio’s representative towards the end of February to discuss the possibility of a new contract.

The Italian signed a two-year deal when he was appointed last May, with the option of extending that into a third year, but such has been his success in his short time as manager that the club are understandably keen to keep him at the County Ground for as long as possible.

However, since those early discussions Di Canio has decided to keep his focus solely on Swindon’s promotion push, mindful that anything else would be an unnecessary distraction.

But once the Robins are mathematically up, he will see what is on offer.

“My agent met the club representatives a few weeks ago. I know a few bits about it but on the whole I don’t even know if they have they had an appointment since,” Di Canio told the Advertiser.

“I don’t even know if they still want to renew the contract or if they have the same intention.

“It may sound strange as they know some things and I don’t know some things but at the moment I don’t want to know.”

Di Canio is hopeful that the whole process of sorting his long-term future will take no longer than one month to ensure he can begin shaping his squad for next season as quickly as possible.

“If we agree everything then I want to anticipate that it will take a minimum of one month,” he added.

“If I remain it will be a tough season and I don’t want to make a start like we did this season, that was too much.

“The fact I am still thinking about the start of the season means it still hurt me in some way because this is my job and I know I did something wrong and I don’t want to fall in the same trap.

“Now I have knowledge so, if we can anticipate one month, then it will be better.”