John O’Shea: Player power did get Paolo Di Canio Sunderland sack

By Massimo Marioni Monday 30 Sep 2013 11:29 am

Putting his foot in: Sunderlands John O’Shea (PictureL PA)

John O’Shea has confirmed Sunderland players spoke up to get Paolo Di Canio the boot from the Stadium of Light.

The Italian was sacked last weekend amid reports of a players’ revolt at the Black Cats’ training ground.

Now O’Shea has revealed that went to chairman Ellis Short with their concerns over Di Canio’s man management.

Asked if Sunderland’s players felt something needed to be done about Di Canio’s regime, O’Shea told the Shields Gazette: ‘That was obviously done. But we have to move on now.

Sacked: Paolo Di Canio (Picture: PA)

‘Because of the position we’re in in the league, we can’t keep going back to it.

‘We’ve got some difficult months ahead.

‘Whoever comes in, whether it’s Bally (Kevin Ball) or a new manager, we’ve got tough times ahead.

‘We have to stick together and if we keep going back to it, it’ll soon be too hard to pull back from where we are.’

John O'Shea, Paolo Di Canio, Sunderland FC