Paulo Dicanio Westham

Dream derby draw for Di Canio

SWINDON Town chief executive Nick Watkins believes it would be a fitting start to Paolo Di Canio’s management career if he can mastermind victory over Championship side Bristol City in the first round of the Carling Cup.

Town were drawn against Keith Millen’s side yesterday and will make the short trip to Ashton Gate on Tuesday, August 9 – just days after the Football League season kicks off.

While a clash against Di Canio’s former side West Ham would have perhaps been the fairytale draw, a fixture against a local rival and the opportunity to knock out a side higher up the league ladder remains an enticing prospect.

City were knocked out at the first hurdle by League Two opponents last year following defeat to Southend, while Town failed to progress beyond the first round following a 2-1 loss to Leyton Orient.

Consequently, both sides will be looking to perform better this time and Watkins is anticipating an exciting clash to unfold.

“What an interesting Carling Cup draw it is with some very intriguing local derbies with Bristol City against Swindon Town being one of them,” he said.

“To draw a Championship club in the early rounds is always a bonus and it will be a very interesting contest with Paolo Di Canio pitting his wits against Keith Millen.  “Crawley Town were the giant killers in last season’s FA Cup - it would be a great start to Paolo’s management career if we could emulate their success in this season’s Carling Cup.”

Watkins is also hopeful that Town will be backed by a large following for the trip down the M4.

The last time travelled to Ashton Gate was back in 2006 when both sides were in League One, when an Aaron Brown strike for Swindon was cancelled out by a David Cotterill goal.

“It has been some considerable time since Swindon Town were guests at Ashton Gate and I am sure it will be a fixture that will attract keen interest,” he added.

Meanwhile, for the first time since 2002 there will be a preliminary round, with Football League newcomers Crawley Town tackling AFC Wimbledon for a place in the first round.

The one-off match will take place on July 29, with the winner securing a trip to Crystal Palace.

City will play host to Town at Ashton Gate on Tuesday, August 9 following yesterday’s draw. It will only be the fifth time the two sides have met in the League Cup, and there has been little to separate the two sides so far.

howlethasv - Former West Ham striker Paulo di Canio confirmed as ...

Former West Ham striker Paulo di Canio confirmed as new Swindon Town manager

Paolo di Canio has been confirmed as Swindon's new manager.

Leader: Di Canio in action for West Ham Photo: PA

By Telegraph staff and agencies 12:40PM BST 20 May 2011

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The 42-year-old Italian, whose brilliance during his playing days walked hand in hand with controversy, takes the reins from Paul Bodin, who was only briefly placed in caretaker charge after the club parted ways with Paul Hart three weeks ago.

Di Canio will make his managerial bow in League Two after Hart, who only took over himself from Danny Wilson in early March, failed to save the Wiltshire club from relegation this season.

The appointment marks a sensational return to England for Di Canio in what is the bottom tier of the Football League, having also been linked with the vacancy at former club West Ham on more than one occasion.

His official unveiling will take place on Monday after the paperwork is completed, at which point the length of contract will be announced.

A statement on the club's official website read: "The board of STFC is committed to returning to League One at the earliest opportunity and is confident that Paolo will build a team with a new level of passion, pride and professionalism to ensure this goal is achieved."

Di Canio, who holds a coaching licence, was one of eight prospective managers shortlisted and subsequently interviewed last week by interim chairman Jeremy Wray for the Town vacancy, with others believed to include George Burley and Dietmar Hamann.

But the lure of the passionate Rome-born former striker has proved too strong and it is understood he accepted the position yesterday.

Di Canio, who will wrap up his work as a pundit in his native Italy this weekend, has been keen to move into the dugout for some time although many anticipated his managerial bow to possibly be made higher up the football pyramid.

He started his career in his homeland with Lazio, Juventus, Napoli and AC Milan - during which time he won the Serie A title and European Super Cup and claimed runners-up medals in both the Uefa Cup and European Cup among other achivements.

Di Canio completed a move to Celtic in 1996, where he spent a single season before a two-year spell at Sheffield Wednesday followed.

It was at Hillsborough where he famously pushed referee Paul Alcock to the ground after being sent off and was banned for 11 matches.

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