• Premier League

Di Canio not best fit for West Ham job - Sullivan

ESPN staff
May 17, 2011
Paolo di Canio was a popular figure at Upton Park © Getty Images
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David Sullivan has ruled out appointing Paolo di Canio as the new West Ham manager.

The former Hammers striker has been linked with the vacant manager's role following the sacking of Avram Grant on Sunday.

But while Sullivan admits Di Canio would be a popular choice with the fans, he believes it is too much of a risk for the newly-relegated club. The Hammers' co-owner says the club need an experienced manager to guide them back into the Premier League next season, and believes a British manager would best fit the bill.

"The problem with Paolo is, although the fans would love it, I'm being realistic and he has no experience whatsoever being a manager," Sullivan told Sky Sports News.

"If you look at first-season managers the failure rate is enormous. If he'd done a season anywhere and was, say, top of Serie B in Italy with a team, I'd take the chance.

"My heart would say Paolo and the fans would say Paolo. But with someone who's a complete novice as a manager, with no experience, you just can't go with it.

"I think we'll definitely get an English manager, or a British manager. We do need someone who understands the culture and if you get someone with a knowledge of the East End that's so much better.

"We'll wait to see who applies and wait to see what happens generally, but it will be resolved within two weeks, I should think."

Martin O'Neill, Chris Hughton and Sam Allardyce have all been linked with the role, but leading candidate Steve McClaren ruled himself out of the running for the vacancy on Monday.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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