Paolo Di Canio confirmed as new Sunderland manager

The volatile former Lazio, Juventus, Celtic, Sheffield Wednesday and West Ham striker, and most recently the Swindon Town manager, was appointed head coach on a two-and-a-half-year deal after breakneck talks in the north-east.

The move immediately proved controversial, David Miliband, the former Labour MP, stepping down as a non executive director in protest at Di Canio's political past in which he has admitted to being a fascist but not a racist. Miliband said: "I wish Sunderland AFC all success in the future. It is a great institution that does a huge amount for the north-east and I wish the team very well over the next vital seven games. However, in the light of the new manager's past political statements, I think it right to step down."

Di Canio was probably looking for a reaction, but not necessarily that one, from a side perched precariously one point above the relegation zone and without a win in eight games. That dismal run provoked the sacking of Martin O'Neill on Saturday evening in the wake of a 1-0 home defeat by an under-strength Manchester United and by Sunday evening Di Canio had arrived on Wearside for advanced talks with Sunderland's owner, Ellis Short, which followed a meeting in London earlier in the day, The Guardian reports.

Short said: "Paolo is hugely enthused by the challenge that lies ahead of him. He is passionate, driven and raring to get started. The sole focus of everyone for the next seven games will be to ensure we gain enough points to maintain our top-flight status. I think that the chances of that are greatly increased with Paolo joining us.

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