STFC fans urge Di Canio to stay with stadium placards (From Swindon Advertiser)

STFC fans urge Di Canio to stay with stadium placards

9:30am Monday 11th February 2013 in News By David Wiles

SWINDON Town supporters at Saturday’s home game urged Paolo Di Canio to stay and continue the charge towards the Championship.

Fans waiting to get into the County Ground, some bearing the Adver’s free Don’t Go Di Canio poster, said they wanted the Italian to stay as manager and some even turned out especially to the League One game against Hartlepool to show their support.

It comes after Di Canio announced he is considering quitting Town over boardroom issues, including having his best player, Matt Ritchie, sold from under his nose, even though the Robins are just two points from the summit of League One.

Di Canio has said nothing on his position in recent days and is believed to be waiting for the sale of the club to be completed before making any major decisions. Fans from across Wiltshire and surrounding counties were at the match.

Stan Bennett, 26, of Gorse Hill, who turned out especially to support Di Canio, said: “Paolo’s probably the best manager we’ve had since Glenn Hoddle so it would be a major blow if he goes. “I’m here to show support. He has done so much for us and, if he keeps the pressure on the team, we’ll get promoted.”

Mark Walford, of Westbury, said: “I think we all feel the same: He should stay. Being where we are, I don’t think he will walk away from it. The sell-out was out of the blue. He has done a fantastic job here.”

Keith Kirk, of Melksham, who has also been a fan since the mid 1970s, said: “He should definitely stay. He has got so much to lose by going. I think if he stays and we get promoted, which is likely, he’s done back-to-back promotions.

“If he goes, I think we will go right back to where we were.

“I think with the attendance today, they have come to support Paolo. Father and son Mark and Andrew Cook, of Faringdon, attended with the free campaign poster from Saturday’s Adver, and claimed that the attendance was higher because people wanted to back Di Canio.

Andrew, 15, said: “I just want him to stay. He’s a good manager. I don’t think he will go. A lot of people have come out to support Paolo.” Mark said: “I think 100 per cent of the fans want him to stay.”