Sunderland announced they had parted company with the fiery Italian a day after Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at West Bromwich Albion left them bottom of the table with just one point from their opening five league games.

“Sunderland AFC confirms that it has parted company with head coach Paolo di Canio this evening,” a club statement said as the curtain came down on his brief spell at the Stadium of Light which only started on March 31.u00a0