Di Canio nears exit door

After a poor start of the season, Sunderland coach Paolo Di canio might be shown an exit door. Report reaching us indicates that Ex Chelsea player Gianfranco Zola and Paul Ince have emerged as surprise contenders to land the Sunderland job.

The club’s hierarchy held an emergency board meeting on Monday after the decision to sack Paolo Di Canio in which potential candidates to replace the Italian were discussed, with Watford chief Zola and Blackpool boss Ince understood to be among those in the frame.

Roberto Di Matteo, Neil Lennon and Gus Poyet are also believed to feature on Sunderland’s early short list.

According to Sportsmail, which understands that initial contact has already been made with Di Matteo and Poyet’s representatives, given they are both out of work. Sunderland play Peterborough United in the Capital One Cup third round on Tuesday.

Poyet is looking to get back into football management after his bitter departure from Brighton in summer and would jump at the chance to take over from Di Canio.

However, Di Matteo is likely to need some persuading if he is to follow in his countryman’s footsteps by taking over at the Stadium of Light. It is understood the former Chelsea manager, who won the Champions League at Stamford Bridge, wants a more high-profile club as he plots a return to football.

The potential appointment of eitherZola, Ince and Lennon would be much more complicated for Sunderland to complete because they are currently in work.

Director of football Roberto De Fanti is the man in charge of finding the club’s next manager.

And early indications are that he would prefer a man with a good understanding of English football. 

But De Fanti could yet look abroad, and in particular Italy, if he feels that he cannot lure the right domestic-based boss to the North East.