SWINDON TOWN: Macca was stripped of armband by outgoing Di Canio

Alan McCormack Alan McCormack

ALAN McCormack was stripped of the captaincy of Swindon Town by Paolo Di Canio over the weekend, the Advertiser has learnt.

McCormack started for the Robins against Tranmere last night without the skipper’s armband after he was reprimanded by Di Canio for missing a training session due to illness.

It is understood that the defender, who Di Canio made captain in the summer, made the decision to visit his doctor for a check-up independently on Saturday morning after being sent home from training on Friday and in order not to infect the rest of the Swindon squad ahead of the tricky trip to Prenton Park.

The former Charlton man only just managed to make the game against Colchester a fortnight ago after coming down with the bug, and has been struggling with it since.

However, the former Town manager did not take kindly to his decision not to attend and dismissed him as skipper, with Simon Ferry assuming those responsibilities last night.

McCormack becomes the third player to have the armband removed from their grasp after Paul Caddis and Oliver Risser suffered similar fates during the early months of the Italian’s reign.

Caddis fell foul of the Italian before the start of the current campaign, with Di Canio choosing to insert McCormack in his place.

The ex-Robins boss explained his decision at the time by saying: “My captain must deliver my words, value and principles to the rest of the dressing room.

“Macca is the perfect example of this.”

Risser, meanwhile, lost the armband to Caddis in October 2011 after spending a period of time on the sidelines with a groin injury.

Comments(20)

Chish and Fips says...
6:35am Wed 20 Feb 13

This was the side of PDC I thought was a little out of control. Yes be firm, but not like this, very demoralizing.

Anyway its moving on time ...

thesixtyniner says...
7:18am Wed 20 Feb 13

We may get a positive backlash from the players now Paolo isn't breathing down their necks. They're clearly a quality bunch of lads and could benefit from a decent calming influence up top. Someone who can man manage and befriend and utilise the experienced members of the squad. The smaller the ego the better.

john9149 says...
8:19am Wed 20 Feb 13

It has to be Nigel Adkins. The job though is going to be a poison chalice. Whoever comes in will now be expected to deliver automatic promotion.

Unfortunately the only way is down!

Highworth red says...
8:43am Wed 20 Feb 13

Yeah, very professional Paolo, am amazed nobody lumped him during training. The players have got us to the top, not that egotistical bull spewing unprofessional Italian.

ScottLeitch says...
9:09am Wed 20 Feb 13

do one highworth, its about time someone put these players in their place. They are lucky to do what they do, most of us would give a left nut to be in their position. At least he made them work hard and got the best out of them.

Blazing Riff says...
9:27am Wed 20 Feb 13

Highworth red wrote:
Yeah, very professional Paolo, am amazed nobody lumped him during training. The players have got us to the top, not that egotistical bull spewing unprofessional Italian.
Saw your other rubbish post too. How would you like it if we made degrading remarks about ALL Highworth folks?

Highworth red says...
9:52am Wed 20 Feb 13

Blazing Riff wrote:
Highworth red wrote:
Yeah, very professional Paolo, am amazed nobody lumped him during training. The players have got us to the top, not that egotistical bull spewing unprofessional Italian.
Saw your other rubbish post too. How would you like it if we made degrading remarks about ALL Highworth folks?
That's how I feel, therefore its not a rubbish post, it's an honest comment about how I feel, which is let down and betrayed by somebody I though was very special and actually thought something for this club and it's fans.

Highworth red says...
10:01am Wed 20 Feb 13

ScottLeitch wrote:
do one highworth, its about time someone put these players in their place. They are lucky to do what they do, most of us would give a left nut to be in their position. At least he made them work hard and got the best out of them.
Yeah, these players need putting in their place, they have only got us to the top of league 1, prat. This man has betrayed us and some of you think he is a legend, so sad. He thought the world revolved around him. We have survived and enjoyed success before him and will enjoy success after him. Good ridance and I for one will be looking forward, not back.

Baritone says...
10:55am Wed 20 Feb 13

Thre are some interesting anecdotes arising from the self-inflicted demise of the "Egotistical One". The sacking of McCormack was inexcusable - especially since he was sent home on the Friday by ODC in order to not infect other players. I am quite sure that Ferry was sympathetic to McCormack and probably told him he would soon be captain again!

Roberts goal from inside his own half was an interesting piece of invention - probably something he would not have dared to try if PDC was still in the driving seat. The signs are that he had a good game - better than when playing for PDC.

Finally, I understand that the players - in unison - caleed out to the fans "No manager, no problem". That says it all about what the players really thought about his bully boy ranting.

If we can get the right manager at the helm, if only to season end, I believe that we now have a better chance of promotion than ever before.

PDC undoubtedly effected some very much needed changes - changes that worked. I hope some-one is analysing the good and the bad - so that the club might build on the good things he brought to the table and ditch the rest!

On Saturday, we can now focus on those people who put us at the top of the league.

"Swindon Town players - they do what they want!"

Blazing Riff says...
11:17am Wed 20 Feb 13

Highworth red wrote:
Blazing Riff wrote:
Highworth red wrote:
Yeah, very professional Paolo, am amazed nobody lumped him during training. The players have got us to the top, not that egotistical bull spewing unprofessional Italian.
Saw your other rubbish post too. How would you like it if we made degrading remarks about ALL Highworth folks?
That's how I feel, therefore its not a rubbish post, it's an honest comment about how I feel, which is let down and betrayed by somebody I though was very special and actually thought something for this club and it's fans.
It's the bits in both posts where you intimate ALL Italians being the same. Basically racist!

RedintheFace says...
12:41pm Wed 20 Feb 13

The irony... Highworth's a racist cos he mentions PDC's nationality. PDC's not a racist though he's a self-professed fascist?

Blazing Riff says...
2:00pm Wed 20 Feb 13

RedintheFace wrote:
The irony... Highworth's a racist cos he mentions PDC's nationality. PDC's not a racist though he's a self-professed fascist?
In fairness to Highworth Red let's be quite clear. I didn't SAY he's a racist but his posts hinted at racism and, it may be due to careless grammar. I rather hoped he'd get the message and will be more careful with his choice of words in the future.

Highworth red says...
2:45pm Wed 20 Feb 13

Blazing Riff wrote:
RedintheFace wrote:
The irony... Highworth's a racist cos he mentions PDC's nationality. PDC's not a racist though he's a self-professed fascist?
In fairness to Highworth Red let's be quite clear. I didn't SAY he's a racist but his posts hinted at racism and, it may be due to careless grammar. I rather hoped he'd get the message and will be more careful with his choice of words in the future.
I said 'Italian', not 'Italian's'. I can tell you now that if I was racist, I wouldn't have done voluntary work for Oxfam.

Highworth red says...
2:51pm Wed 20 Feb 13

Blazing Riff wrote:
RedintheFace wrote:
The irony... Highworth's a racist cos he mentions PDC's nationality. PDC's not a racist though he's a self-professed fascist?
In fairness to Highworth Red let's be quite clear. I didn't SAY he's a racist but his posts hinted at racism and, it may be due to careless grammar. I rather hoped he'd get the message and will be more careful with his choice of words in the future.
No no no, that's it, called me a racist, I'm gonna call my lawyer......well I would if I had one.

ScottLeitch says...
6:17pm Wed 20 Feb 13

Highworth red wrote:
ScottLeitch wrote:
do one highworth, its about time someone put these players in their place. They are lucky to do what they do, most of us would give a left nut to be in their position. At least he made them work hard and got the best out of them.
Yeah, these players need putting in their place, they have only got us to the top of league 1, prat. This man has betrayed us and some of you think he is a legend, so sad. He thought the world revolved around him. We have survived and enjoyed success before him and will enjoy success after him. Good ridance and I for one will be looking forward, not back.
Highworth you clearly have some sort of inferiority complex. Paolo gave Swindon its identity back, brought back a sence of pride and passion, and above all assembled the squad of players in the first place!.

Exiled Bob says...
6:18pm Wed 20 Feb 13

Blazing Riff wrote:
Highworth red wrote:
Blazing Riff wrote:
Highworth red wrote:
Yeah, very professional Paolo, am amazed nobody lumped him during training. The players have got us to the top, not that egotistical bull spewing unprofessional Italian.
Saw your other rubbish post too. How would you like it if we made degrading remarks about ALL Highworth folks?
That's how I feel, therefore its not a rubbish post, it's an honest comment about how I feel, which is let down and betrayed by somebody I though was very special and actually thought something for this club and it's fans.
It's the bits in both posts where you intimate ALL Italians being the same. Basically racist!
You muppet.

Highworth red says...
6:26pm Wed 20 Feb 13

I agree with every word you say. Unfortunately, it's the bit at the end that has left me feeling let down and upset with him.

Highworth red says...
6:29pm Wed 20 Feb 13

That last post was for you Scott, thought I had linked it to your last post.

Rogersforengland says...
6:58pm Wed 20 Feb 13

This was what Paolo was dreadful at, Man management keeping players onside, his often public humiliation contributed to a high turnover of players and even now some still ostracised like Luke Rooney, i for one wont miss that

Blazing Riff says...
8:01pm Wed 20 Feb 13

Highworth red wrote:
Blazing Riff wrote:
RedintheFace wrote:
The irony... Highworth's a racist cos he mentions PDC's nationality. PDC's not a racist though he's a self-professed fascist?
In fairness to Highworth Red let's be quite clear. I didn't SAY he's a racist but his posts hinted at racism and, it may be due to careless grammar. I rather hoped he'd get the message and will be more careful with his choice of words in the future.
I said 'Italian', not 'Italian's'. I can tell you now that if I was racist, I wouldn't have done voluntary work for Oxfam.
So you didn't write 'bleedin Italians' in the other thread. maybe you should check. Like I said...may be due to careless grammar.

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