Things were not working out for Sunderland under Martin O'Neill. They were without a win in eight games and had picked up only three points from a possible 24. When the news filtered through that O'Neill had been sacked on Saturday night, even his mates in the Match of the Day studio couldn't muster much of a defence for his record.

O'Neill needed to go, but was Paolo Di Canio the answer? Aside from having no experience of managing in the Premier League, Di Canio has a worrying political past. David Miliband, who has accepted a plum new job in New York at the International Rescue Committee, did not stick around to debate fascism with Di Canio.

When asked about his political beliefs at his unveiling to the press, Di Canio said his previous support of fascism was irrelevant to his new job. "I don't have to answer any more this question," Di Canio said. "My life speaks for me so there is no need to speak any more about this situation because it is ridiculous and pathetic."

"I can't every two weeks, every two months, every 10 months answer the same questions that are not really in my area. We are in a football club and not in the House of Parliament. I'm not a political person, I will talk about only football."

What should we want from our "football people"? Do we want them to exist only within the football bubble and ignore politics or issues within wider society? Do we want them to hold political beliefs that we find palatable? Would you mind having Di Canio at your club and, if you're a Sunderland fan, do you care more about the results he will produce for the team or the image he projects of your club?