Thetownend.com

Oops....

oh i hope not

[url width=77 height=120]http://thetownend.com/index.php?action=dlattach;attach=1828;type=avatar[/url]

why magic?  i'd still like Burley but reckon he could be a good shout

I'd be happy with that....

Hamann is from a country which 60 years ago openly embraced facism I will demand my money back if he is employed  ;)

bacause for me Burley has been there and done it and we need a stable ship to get us out of L2. I'm not doubting Hamann wont do a good job but just want him to start his managerial carrer somewhere else. i would prefer someone experienced.

Hahaha brilliant.

I guess the disadvantage is he'd be a risk.

He's not got a bad pedigree though, and if we are going down this route he'd be more palatable than Di Canio to some. At the expense of somehow not being quite as exciting..

It's a national characteristics thing isn't it, somehow the reliable, consistent German seems less exciting but safer than the controversial Italian maverick.

Ban this racist.

You'd rather be seen in an Alpha than a Merc. But your more likely to get where you need to be in a Merc.

All this generalising. Next thing you'll be talking about a Scotsman with a drinking problem.










Oh!

There's one with a drinking problem and one that's extremely dour.

This is really getting silly now. I suppose this is why Bodin is out of the running, he's yet to be caught fellating a sheep and doesn't wear Rugby shirts all the time.

The BBC Leicester guy just tweet back saying "Rumours of Didi Hamann from #lcfc to Swindon as manager - yes he's in the running but some way to go. Di Canio + Burley favourites"

Shameless plug time... follow @discodazr & I'll keep ya informed!

How about a German with a drinking problem?
http://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/uk_national_news/5023772.print/

As a former Alfa owner, I can confirm this.

What about a Hamman/Di Canio management Axis? (ducks)

Now that is a seriously novel excuse.

Only problem with Paul's idea is that Di Canio might change sides if we're losing at half time.

It says he was in his Range Rover and not an Alfa or a Merc- what can we read into that ?  :wink:

Heard an interesting addition to this in that he's bringing Fowler with him as first team coach.

Sounds too good to be true, so probably is.

Didi Hamann would be a good, steady appointment.

Decent name, good pro with FL coaching experience. Can't ask for much more than that at our level.

Post Sturrock, Malpas and Wilson, i would say that a young, rookie with coaching experience (and a big playing career behind him) would definitely be my preference.

Would make sense of why triseros has heard about it - they'll have told the ground staff so they can make sure the white lines are properly prepared

Its going to be ambiguous at best if Fowler asks Wray to get the credit card out.

Hamann and Fowler, really? I really hope there's some truth in this rumour.
Some exciting names being banded about.
Hamann, Fowler, Di Canio, Burley, Rix.

Nice try ;)

:D

Well he'll need to if we're sniffing around a player who might make the cut

All our dreams are made, when he's chained to the mirror and the razor blade...

rumbled...

A stockpile of WD40 has been ordered...

certainly a better shout than di-canio i reckon.

Leicester City fans saying it's been tweeted now

http://www.foxestalk.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=72967

I'd have some of that.

We need to dig up some controversy on him.

I heard he once went to toilet but didn't wash his hands.

With Rix as head of youth, David Icke as goalkeeping coach and LizardPeople Liaison, Marlon King in charge of the Ladies' Side and Dominique Strauss-Kahn as Finance Director

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietmar_Hamann

Something to get started with.

More importantly how long will it take the Advertiser to report this as exclusive breaking news??   :hmmm:

He once offered a piece of bread to a duck, as the duck approached he ate it himself and laughed in the ducks face. He's a shit.

Has he any association with Di Canio in the past?

He feeds Beefburgers too Swans too

He eats cygnets

I think I've heard that before. At least, it has a familiar ring to it :)

So what r u guys sayin that he is the man whos got the job, or hes just one of the eight?

He parked his Range Rover in a disabled space I heard.

At least it wasnt a parent and kiddie space.

Samdy would have a fucking meltdown  :D

Lee Hughes could drive the coach.

No that was Graham Rix.....

The adver have mentioned Hamann at the bottom of this new article...

http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/news/9029721.Di_Canio_still_in_the_frame/

I think he jumped the queue once in Tesco, but then again for us Germans that is not shocking

If he is taken on, we should put a sun lounger by the dugout for the first game of the season (with towel, obviously)

Perhaps if we'd known in advance of Fowler's possible arrival they could have left the lines of Charlie. :hide:

Rumour is, he already put his towel in the dug out at 3 this morning

Latest odds....

http://www.victorchandler.com/vcbet/en-gb/coupon/show/3/126456098/2839/10976/5704751/1

Shunsuke Nakamura as coach?

how is lawrie sanchez on there? didnt he just take the job at barnet?

 Hamman was my mystery man....as I said last week ticks a lot of boxes for me, young not tainted by failure....good player, good English, and has a bit of lower experience from last season with MK.

 Stand out candidate as far as I'm concerned...

 

[url width=333 height=222]http://i.thisis.co.uk/275565/article/images/3502124/2051127-vlarge.jpg[/url]

After taking training he repeatedly tried to get the rest of the squad to do a nazi salute, he has NEVER denied being a fascist.

When Burley was announced as a candidate I thought that was brilliant, as good as we could hope for. Hamann would top him IMO though - I find myself agreeing with Reg - he really ticks all the boxes.

Yep, Didi stands out for me too, especially if he brings Robbie with him too!

What about the rest of Take That?

No, Robbie's the only one who has any football knowledge and still owns a house near me..

They will come on loan but won't be back for good

Articulate, smart, played decent football. I really like the sound of this one. He's played in a World Cup and CL Final. Been there, done it. Yes please.

And let's not overlook his gambling problem - which has been the vice of choice of many of Swindon's most successful managers:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_city/article6395955.ece

haha i take my hat off to you sir

Also played for both 'Pool and City who we have links with...

Me too, with Burley as second choice if we decide to "play it safe".

I look forward to the exclusive reveal that neither have applied tomorrow :)

to sergant pepper music

Were didi hamans super swindon town
I hope you all enjoy the show
Were did hamans super swindon town
Come on and watch us score a goal
Didi hamans super, Didi hamans super, didi hamans super Swindon town


( when i first heard his name mentioned it just came into my crazy head.  i will go back to the ward now. )

I think I would feel pretty good if 'Didi' was appointed.

At the end of the day, everyone has come up with their own personal favourites as to who they would like to see appointed. Ultimately, no one can really know how well anyone would do.

People have made the argument that we need experience at this time, which is fair enough. However, we started last season with a manager who had over 800 games under his belt and look where that got us. I would argue that an inexperienced manager brings to the table a passion, enthusiasm and drive that you won't get with an older, perhaps staler and more cynical but more experienced guy.

I would say, were this appointment to happen, that he would bring those, what I think of as typical German traits of organization, discipline and that winning mentality which the Germans have and we lack* (as a nation that is, there are obviously notable individual exceptions). He also has been working under one of the outstanding club managers of the last 20 years in Sven. And I believe he has his coaching badges.

Of course, as has been alluded to a couple of times in the pages upon pages of drivel speculation (which I have myself contributed to), what none of us have been a party to is the interview which, let's face it is quite a key part of the selection process.

If we had seen the actual interviews then maybe we would all be raving about how John Hughes absolutely definitely has to get the job. Maybe if we appointed Trollope we would win the league with 110 points. Who knows? But my own gut feeling (and that's all I have to go on) is that I hope they give the job to Hamman. There would be more than enough pluses there to feel optimistic.

*Sorry to sound like Al Murray but I happen to believe it's true.

At least the games would kick off on time, the players would obey his orders and there would be a decent post match interrogation.

'Di Canio was today still waiting to hear back from Town but his agent, Phil Spencer, has told the Advertiser that his client's situation has not changed'

Is that Phil from location location location?

Are there any German managers in the football league?

Who was our last German?

I cannot think of one.


But the CG was used to hold German POW's during WW2 !!!

Me neither.

Erhard Milch - right wing

Why is the original post edited out?


I don't want a drink driving gambler anywhere near this club.

yes you do

These aren't the droids you're looking for.

I visited Mauthausen concentration camp yesterday. Absolute horrific things happened there, as you can imagine and lots of the architecture of death is still there today.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauthausen-Gusen_concentration_camp

Anyway, Hamann would be gratefully recieved as Town manager in my eyes.

If Hamann has applied and does not get the job I am going to be incandescent with rage

Hamann's career is full of successes... He's played 90 minutes of a World Cup Final and won the Champions League, proper achievements.

I think what impresses me the most about him as an applicant is that I doubt he needed to go Franchise or to a lesser extent Leicester City. He's opted to learn in the lower leagues which is very sensible in my eyes.

We as a nation like to ridicule Sven-Göran Eriksson there's no doubt that he's a great coach... Karl Robinson is also a highly regarded coach (shame he's at that club).

I eagerly await the appointment of Richard Money :)

Red Dave angry?

Like you wouldn't believe

Man, that's pretty angry. Hulk Smash angry.

More Reagan smash these days i'm afraid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZdZbZl28nU&feature=related

Haha I was going to post that Dave.

:)

how about di canio manager and didi assistant manager

why would didi go from 1st team coach at leicester to asst at swindon?

you ever no

Why would Paul Ince join Macclesfield Town and Franchise?

Why would Roberto Di Matteo join Franchise?

Why would Lou Macari, Ossie Ardiles and Glenn Hoddle join Swindon?

Even the bigger names have to start somewhere.

I think you've missed the key "asst" in his post Rich.

true point mate

You're right, apologies.

Point still stands (just about) - You could argue Hamann's job at Leicester is educational more than anything as they've got Derek Fazackerley there too.

yeah, it was in reaction to patrick posting di canio as boss with didi his assistant which would make no sense at all to me...

Didi has far more lower league and coaching experience than Di Canio, ludicrous suggestion to suggest he'd be a number two to Di Canio

Didi Hamman with Di Canio as his assistant and Princess Di as coach

Go easy chaps.Get the impression Patrick is a youngun

wasn't trying to be mean, hope he didn't think i was...

Did anyone hear any more about this Rich Pullen bloke being in the frame for the job?

I missed the interview when fending Graham Rix away from the club.

...sometimes you've got to think of others, I'll get my chance.

Good show Rich, how hard did you hit him?

We'll struggle to get another chance to appoint someone as exciting as Di Canio. Get him in on an 18 month contract with a massive buyout clause if another club comes in for him.

I like Hamann, I like the whole German football team mentality. But as a figurehead, hes not as good as Di Canio.

Burley is an alcoholic who is past his use by date. P Taylor also past it. Bodin would be a disaster. If we were going to appoint Trollope we should have done it sooner. He would be undermined by the big names weve had linked to the job.

The Scottish ex Falkirk manager sounds alright, but I know nothing about him at all. I guess the 8th and last candidate is Ling? But we are all guessing really.

Are you pullen my--no I can't do it.

It's down to personal preference but Hamman excites me more. Di Canio was exciting on the pitch and would probably get more of a feel good factor around the club (for the majority anyway) but Hamman has so much more experience as a player and as a coach. As long as the team is successful people will be excited.

The other is Hughes not Ling, and probably Magilton instead of Bodin who got an interview, but will never get the job. Doubt Bodin was even interviewed.

Hamann makes a lot more sense than Di Canio, he just has slightly less of the buzz created around Town.

Im for Team Hamann. His appointment would make more sense than PDC. Its all about the German efficiency, not the Italian craziness.

Hamann or Di Canio would please me.

I'm warming to Hamann more

I also get the impression that he impressed in the interview. But then so did Malpas.

Arrgghhhhh. Why did I have to have that last thought?

Yep, Hamann sounds good to me. Or Burley, or Hughes...a much higher calibre of applicant in general than we originally expected.

Well, it's your lucky day as i've spoken to both Paolo and Didi and they are up for double teaming you.

If the shortlist is remotely accurate, then I find it incredible. It'll be such a let down if it's someone like Trollope now.

Who'd have honestly thought we'd be debating whether we'd prefer Hamman, Di Canio, Burley or others? Also find it unbelievable that Rix was even considered.

You funny man.

That's not reich

I find the shortlist very impressive. A few of the fringe candidates ain't exactly terrible either.

Just think that out of Burley, Di Canio and Didi, at least one of those will not be getting the job.

Who'da thunk that a couple of weeks ago?

Magilton it is then

I wonder how many of these would have applied had Wray not withdrew the offer of DOF to Hart.
Thank fuck for that!

Bodin was definatly interviewed.

Christ...I'm almost pleased we got relegated now you put it like that!

I really hope its Hamann.

"We are the Didi-men!"

Many, many years ago I was one of the Didi-men in the village carnival, is this an omen?

Can we run out to this if he's appointed?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QYIlgRg9TY

I just love unlikely metal cover versions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXa9tXcMhXQ

BR - I was just about to post the same clip. I was also looking at Tangerine Dream and Einsturzende Neubaten.

OK, so we know a little about Krautrock, but what about German cheese?

I always thought the Hoff was German.

Just found out he is actually American. German cheese, struggling a bit here now innit.

Ooooh.

Beer comes from Germany. That's enough for me

Bavarian blue is a tasty german cheese.

Hammann has played for Eriksson, Trappatoni, Benitez, Houllier and Dalglish. Doesn't get much better than that.

Couple of interviews. I like this guy.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/oct/09/dietmar-hamann-mk-dons-interview
http://leicestercityfootballclub.com/2011/04/29/the-friday-interview-didi-hamann-sets-his-sights-on-being-a-manager/

We should run out to this, whoever is appointed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4K6ZxDwi34

and the pyro, gotta have the Rammstein pyro.

Am I the only one who's not inspired by Mr Hamann? I just feel he hasn't got the 'wow' factor or experience.

European Cup winner, World Cup finalist, EUFA cup winner, 2 FA cup medals, etc, etc.
Has been coaching at Franchise and Leicester.
OK, no managerial experience as yet, but I just get the feeling he'd make a great manager.
A bit of German mentality and efficiency could be just what we need.

He's my favourite candidate by far, and I hope he gets appointed.

I continue to be astounded by the quality of the candidates on the list.  Hamann has jumped to the top of the list, from my point of view.  I agree...has to be him.  I have a good feeling about this.

yes

yes you are

the only box he doesn't tick for me is the 'here for the long term' one, which i'm sure he wont be.

But surely anyone that is any good won't be here forever? Unless we fly straight back up the league into the Premiership!  :D

It's a bit like with players though in that respect... more often than not, until we hit the Championship, we'll be a stepping stone or shop window for most.

yeah i accept that. the nature of the beast

Didi has the right background for the role hopefully he will be appointed in the next couple of days if we do well he will be here for one maybe 2 seasons

the more i think about it we have attracted a good level of candidate for the role, do people think more people have applied since Mr Fitton stood down?

Interesting if he was given the job, no experience but.... Would he still be playing next season, a big plus if he was....

Hoddle used us as a stepping stone, as did Ardiles.  Neither was with us for a great length of time.  So what?  They did a job for us.  If Hamann (or anyone else) can get us back in to League One...or, better still, have us challenging for the Championship before deciding his future lies elsewhere, then that's good enough for me.  At that point, there will be plenty of new candidates putting their names forward to take over.  We've already demonstrated that we're an attractive proposition.

No. This is still an attractive club. Good recent history, news of it being run properly will be known in the football world and, essentially, a lot of good people struggling to find work.

Totally agree we have a track record for bringing on these people
MR Wray when will you let us know the outcome, you could give an exclusive thread to the TEF

:nod: Good news takes some time to become established - when we appointed Malpas, and to some extent when we replaced him, a lot of people still thought of us as basket case Swindon, even if we knew differently. Last season changed that to make people look at us again and realise that off the field there's a great setup here for the right manager. Even after this awful season, that will just make a lot of decent candidates think if they can get in at the ground floor, they can really do something here.

agree. Anyone meeting the board members, then taking a walk around the club and looking at some of the potential players they have to work with with really feel they can achieve something here. Good luck to whoever gets it...

I also think someone like Hamann would take a look at photos of Hoddle and Ardiles and think "wow, look at those two huge names and what they did here, I'll have some of that."

I really hope it's Hamann!!!

Hamann or Burley for me.

Didi has incredible pedigree and has not only coached but also played (a bit) at this level so will be reasonably familiar with the requirements and demands of lower league football.

love the avatar SY. what a programme!

Yep you are.

Germans don't know the meaning of failure.

with one or two notable exceptions ;)

For any Germans out there.......

Ha ha :)

If it isn't Hamann now I will be really miffed. Even if they announce Burley, who I thought would be a brilliant appointment a few days ago would seem like second best.

We don't know 100% for sure if he applied and whether he was serious if he did.

Imagine if they appoint one of the Scottish guys after all this speculation. Meltdown.

Even worse, imagine if it's Rix or Trollope.

A couple of weeks ago, I sensed some were warming to the idea of Trollope.  But since Burley, Di Canio and now Hamann have been linked, it would be an anticlimax.

We could be the Didi Men!

Next season's half-time entertainment sorted, move over Robinettes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmpJSp7J2eo&feature=related

Keep up - I said that on page 8!

Stupid idea.

Blame wiggy. He said it on page 8.

I would definitely protest at being called a didi man.

Nothing official and probably a wum, but a Leicester fan reckons Hamann's to be Di Canio's assistant.

http://www.foxestalk.co.uk/forums/index.php?showtopic=73076

That would be crazy.

Can't see it especially if Hamann did actually apply for the job. Could be a fall back option for the board though if PDC leaves sooner than we'd like?

come off it. That is 100% bullshit.

His assistant will be italian

Maybe the link was never Didi applying as manager.

Could have been some crossed wires there. Could make the perfect duo.

of courts it's almost certainly bollocks.

It's a wind up.  Why would Hamann be interested in a coaching role at a Div 4 club?  And how would our finances stretch to employing both di Canio and Hamann?

The agent on Twitter has confirmed it's bullshit!

About as well as when we employed Wise and Poyet. Oh wait, that didn't end well financially. Um, er...

It won't be true. But its a strange wind up. Why would anyone try and have a pop at the Leicester fans by pretending one of their coaches is leaving. I can't see anyone caring that much. Unless...

Processed Beats started the rumour to cause a TEF wind up...

Assistant needs to be English.

Not so much that but someone who knows a bit about the English lower leagues. This is my only concern with PDC at the moment.

I don't understand why experience of lower leagues needs to be essential? If we can play our way out of the league then all is good. PDC has shown passion and commitment in his playing days so he should bring that as a manager.

Oh jesus. Really? Its all well and good our back room staff having no understanding of this level whatsoever, just as long as they jump around on the touchline and make crazy arm gestures.

I really am gobsmacked by how blind some people are over how risky this appointment is, as well as the infuritating belief that managers should show 'passion'. What the fuck does that even mean? It's not really a swindonfan-only gripe, it's something which plagues the english footballing psyche, and further setting it as highest importance will only hold us back.

Any appointment is risky, no matter the experience. PDC has FIFA coaching badges, and possibly good contacts, so that must stand for something?

At the end of the day, time will tell. One thing for sure, is there seems to be a buzz around which can only be a good thing?

Yup he's fully qualifed in terms of a coach. His knowledge of the English lower leagues won't be great but if he's prepared to watch 50 odd videos of our shite from last season the fair play to him for doing that and it will help him decide who he wants to keep and sign etc. I guess he has Bodin here who has a great knowledge of the club and it's players as well. The contacts thing is a the main one for me. He'll be able to attract players we otherwise wouldn't be able to get in L2.

Agree that all appointments have risk involved, but compared to the alternative names linked the appointment of di canio has so much more involved it could end up verging on the reckless. Though it could, of course, be a masterstroke, seeing rumours that we'll be signing a bunch of lower league italian cast offs does not fill me with much hope. I have terrible visions of this all going horribly horribly wrong, and it concerns me that the majority view seems to be overwhelmingly positive for this appointment

whoever is no2 will have to be a yes man.can't see anyone swaying di canio with their own opinions.

It could. But there is no proof that it will. Equally as you can't see why people are so positive I can't really see why you're so negative.

Whoever got appointed some fans wouldn't have been happy. I am happy with the appointment personally, but to say he's gonna bring in this player and that is just gibberish at this stage. Wait til he's seen how crap we were first!! He might just see the videos which may scare him off!!

Agreed. Let's hear what he has to say first before anything else. After all we haven't heard from PDC at all about coming here and what his plans are. It's only been his agent and Wray.

Does that not seem a bit odd? Would it have been so difficult for him to have released a couple of lines or so?

Maybe I am being overly negative, but his behaviour so far has done nothing to suggest he won't piss off at the soonest oppurtunity.

Let's not forget that bogus Dave didn't want Hoddle either

Yes, I didn't want a man who's done bog all in management for the best part of a decade and would clearly have other interests if he took the job.

Cuckooo

Yawn

cuckoo - you mean cockoo ?

This is such a typical Adver forum comment......


YES - you are being overly negative !  Almost bordering on MONG status !!

How the fuck can you sit there and moan that PDC hasn't said anything ??  It was pretty clear from JW that he has media commitments this weekend and will be here tomorrow.

What's the problem ?  FFS anything to have a pop about - ridiculous !

Don't be a dick!!!

What fucking behaviour?

We've heard absolutley nothing from him which, considering he'll have known since at least thursday night, seems at best negligent and at worse disrespectful.

Like I said i'm erring on the side of caution, maybe a little too much, but after the neverending blind positivity that surrounded this club before the start of last season I reserve the right to do so.

He's got some lose ends to tie up in another country Dave, so fucking what?

These things happen, would you have preferred it if we were made to wait until he was back here to announce anything. Get a grip would ya?

It was decided and announced that he'll have a press conference TOMORROW. Then we'll hear everything he has to say.

Fucking hell calm down.

Fair enough some people have their opinions and i've got mine, and they aren't really going to change. One of us is going to be proven wrong, and I hope that it's me.

Opinion or not Dave you're just not being logical here.

Most managers are now preparing for a holiday, whereas Di Canio is preparing to start a new job instead. Yet you seem to think that shows a lack of commitment. Does this really make sense to you?

i'm kinda with dave here.it doesn't look like di canio is rushing to be here.why couldn't he fly back for his weekend commitments after sorting stuff out here? also asking for dvds of games looks to me like he knows fuck all about the team.
i fear the board have been tempted by his fame,rahter than his credentials. that said, i hope my fears are wrong and he's bang up for the job here and will do a fine job.

That would be the same for whoever we'd appointed - the fact Di Canio's doing it should not be lauded as a display of commitment. It should be expected.

For crying out loud man, you are defeating your own argument here. 

Nobody is lauding it is a display of commitment, rather it is just normal. You are the one to say it is a lack of commitment, only then to say it would be the same for anyone.

Have a fucking word with yourself, you really are showing yourself up a bit here.

What a fucking tool

I probably misread what you meant tbf. Apolgies if I did.

Like I said there's no point in continuing this debate. You in particular don't seem to be a poster who easily changes their opinion, which is fair enough. Like I said, I hope i'm wrong about the whole thing

My take on it is that the fans would have imploded if we hadn't announced anything last week. Di Canio has got a notice period like any other contract and is seeing that out.

Christ imagine the meltdown if it had all been put off til Monday. Maybe that's what that Pastor had forseen.

Unbelievable, this screams of a manager who wants to systematically disect our failiure of a season and identify what needs addressing, but you (as the majority of pessimist fucking fans at this club, becuase who ever got appointed you'd be moaning) have already set PDC up for failiure as he doesn't know our club inside out.

PDC could start his job end of June when the players get back in, but no, he's getting ahead of the game and putting us in the best possible position for both STFC and PDC to enjoy success. I tell you now, if Sir Alex took the job, he'd be doing the exact same thing, would you be moaning then?

Yeah I don't see what's wrong with watching videos. In fact I think it's a good idea. After all he's been working and living in Italy so how is going to have a clue about our squad anyway? Seems a bit silly that one.

What if we had just poached a manager from another club. Let's say Buckle, for example. He wouldn't know much about our team either.

Exactly. Apart from Benyon of course but the point remains. Don't think someone like Hamann would have a clue about many if any of our players and/or our set up either. Every manager has to bed in and get to know the squad. Wise and Poyet probably didn't have a clue when they arrived either.

Take Wise & Poyet as an example, it shows that really, to get out of L2 all you need is a weel drilled, sqaud that's fitter than everyone else. We don't need to spend £x million to get promoted this season, and PDC (Just like Wise & Poyet) will prove that. The squad will no doubt train with premier league quality instruction and at premier league intensity. Put that with a manager who's an absolute loon. I see no problems getting out this division.

If you analyse the appointment and Wrays interview you can conclude:

- Wray doesn't want to be involved in the football bit and is leaving that to the manager. At interview PDC came across as organised and detail orientated
- Passion was missing from last year. PDC has always been passionate
- PDC did best in interview
- PDC is a big name that is recognised in football circles and across multiple fanbases. Potential for drawing players to the club?
- PDC was idolised by West Ham fans. West Ham has not only a SE fanbase, but a countrywide one. Some talk about W Ham fans considering us their '2nd team' and considering coming to watch (More people through the turnstyles?)
- PDC is a 'colourful character'. Lots of publicity for the club - Remember, all publicity is good publicity. Signing a 'big name' highlights the club as a 'big club'. Attracts players? Attracts fans? Also gives a buzz around the club
- Controversy breads curiosity. Hopefully the cat won't be killed, but maybe more people will come to see what the fuss is about. Increased season ticket sales?
- Delay in announcement? Checking perhaps that sponsors were happy? Only a small donator has pulled out.
- Listen to the Glenn Hoddle interview. Think that players are coming from his academy?

My own personal thoughts? Not sure that I like flamboyance. Never really liked PDC as a player because of his immature behaviour. Not sure what sort of job he'll do. Don't like the spotlight on the fascist stuff. If he does well, it'll be a great appointment. Do I think he will achieve what I think he possibly wants (which I think is to romp home as stylish L2 champions)....No.

It's just the minority doing that. The rest of us just want to get on with the football.

How many managers out there do you think know anything about our team?

Even if Di Canio was familiar with our team, unless he'd already watched every single game then he should be going through the DVDs anyway, like any manager we could have potentially got they wouldnt have watched us for the entire season.

I can see Bogus Daves point in so much that Di Canio has said nothing, sure he's out the country and has other commitments but I dont think it would have been that difficult to at least prepare some sort of statement that Di Canio/his agent/Wray could have read out or could have been put up on the official site. Even if it just said he's happy to have the opportunity to manage in England, he's got other commitments this weekend and he's looking forward to getting stuck in Monday. Just something from the horses mouth. I'll assume he'll say this sort of stuff tomorrow anyway.

Perhaps the board chose him because he's qualified, may have decent contacts and passion?? Just a thought like...

The board haven't made the decision lightly.

But does it suggest he'll piss off at the earliest opportunity?

Any manager that does well will always be 'looked at' no matter who they are.

Nope it doesnt - but honestly cant think of any other managerial appointment that happened without any communication from the actual manager himself! Even if he couldnt make it personally.

As I said, I partly agreed with Dave - as in I think we should have heard at least something from the horses mouth to go with the announcement of him as manager.

Surely that's just made the whole last paragraph a little pointless? If he's going to say that tomorrow then what difference does it make if he said it on Friday? It's only a weekend. I still don't see the point tbh.

I don't understand why he would need to release a statement. There's a press conference tomorrow, which will officially 'unveil' him. I personally think he's being proffesional and seeing his current contractual obligations with italian tv.

take a peice of a post and blow it all out of proportion eh.

i aint moaning,nor am i anti di canio,i just have a few fears which i've explained.i'll be delighted if my fears are wrong.
we will all find out if this is a good appointment in time.why people are arguing and belittling others views,just becuase they who dont share it on di canio has become a fucking bore.it doesn't have to be pro vs anti di canio. i'm neither.
i'll back di canio all the way,i'm just concerned about a few issues.

I think the club have done it on purpose - the CG will be crawling with press tomorrow especially now it's a proper unveiling.

Having him dish out a few quotes on Friday would mean less coverage tomorrow.

The reason the press conference is tomorrow is to give the national media enough heads up to make sure it's covered.

There are quotes from him in the football league paper today.

"swindon are a big club and i am delighted to have got the job, it is a challenge for me but i am looking forward to it.

I see this as an exciting opportunity for me to get my mangerial career up and running. I have always said that i love english football anf have a great passion for it, so i am really looking forward to working at swindon"

Is there a decent interview with him Tans ?

No just a page spread about how he would give us passion. Its mainly quotes from wray

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14033079.stm

Been appointed as Stockport manager.

Not the ideal place to start your management career.

This appointment shows that the compensation to Leicester wasn't in fact the reason we didn't get him.

 Can't have been much if they managed to get him.

Alot of rebuilding to be doen on the squad, but if he can get them up then he may quickly be snapped up by a bigger club.

Be interesting to see how he uses his contacts he would have built up of players around the lower leagues in his coaching career to date.

I'm not sure we ever tried to get him. Was it even confirmed that he applied? I'm not sure it was and have a feeling it was just media bollocks.

I thought he did, but as you say it probably was bollocks.

I saw Didi Hamann at Leicester Races once.

True story.

There were definitely conversations between the club and Hamman....personally I'd have preferred him to di Canio. However what's done is done.

According to Wray and Hamanns agent he did not apply for the job at Swindon.

I would have agreed with you at the time Reg, but I have to say I am warming to PDC with what he has said and done so far.

Not according to Wray, he said as much on the radio interview, that he knew nothing of Hamann being linked with us.

Oh shut up you old git.

I must admit I did at the time aswell, Reg.

Paolo has impressed me since though.

So the Volksdeutsche Bewegung got to you then?

What a nice man hammann is, working for free

Lets face it stockport wont ve able to pay him..

If he's applied for Stockport then I think its a safe guess to say he would have applied for other lower league jobs. So, applying to manage us would fit.

Doesn't matter anymore does it. I'm pleased with PDC. He impresses me more every week.

This is a terrible decision by Dietmarr Hamann, and one that he will come to regret.

I can only wish Stockport the best. It could just as well been us sliding into oblivion.

He lives in the area,my feeling is that they will bounce back up.
A small stepping stone for him before going on to bigger things.

The Conference isn't an easy division to crack. Stockport have a decent catchment area, so they could benefit from that.

Didn't do Droylsden much good but they did manage to beat the Scum....as did Stockport twice last season.

I'm sure Stockport will benefit from a bit of lower league elitism. They'll attract better than the likes of Droylsden to begin with... budget pending.

Well they're gonna get a tidy sum from the sale of Pilkington to Norwich, dunno how much of that will be ploughed back into the squad though?