Report: Paolo Di Canio issued ultimatum to Sunderland players

By Joe Fish, Reporter | 23 September 2013

Paolo Di Canio was reportedly fired by Sunderland after several of his first-team players took him up on his ultimatum to go to the board and ask for his sacking.

Paolo Di Canio was sacked by Sunderland after senior players took him up on his ultimatum to go to the club's board with their grievances over his managerial style, according to a report.

The Wearside outfit are bottom of the Premier League following the Italian's short reign, which was ended on Sunday evening, during which he established a variety of strict training ground rules and often publicly criticised his players.

Reports have claimed that the Black Cats made the decision to fire the former West Ham United striker when senior first-team figures informed chief executive Margaret Byrne of their discontent with his regime.

The Independent claims that during a heated team meeting in the aftermath of Saturday's 3-0 defeat at West Bromwich Albion, Di Canio challenged his players by saying: "If you don't want me here, tell the club and I will probably be sacked".

Banning youth team players from using the club's gym at the same time as first-team squad members and banning tomato ketchup were among the rules put in place by Di Canio.