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Paolo Di Canio has cancelled Sunderland players’ early summer holidays after fining seven stars in just five days.

The Wearsiders retained their Premier League status on Tuesday, when Wigan lost to Arsenal.

But it only caused Di Canio to crack the whip further in a bid to install his “discipline and mentality”.

The only man to celebrate Wigan’s demise was owner Ellis Short - who rang Di Canio at midnight and sang him a popular terrace chant!

Some of the Black Cats' players wanted to finish the season by flying on holiday direct from London on Sunday after their game with Spurs.

But Di Canio put the block on those plans, causing flights to be cancelled, and insisted they come in for training next week to get their heads focused on NEXT season.

Only if they show the correct attitude, and perform, at White Hart Lane will his stars be allowed to jet away for a break.

The boss said: “It is crucial for me to see what happens on Sunday, then I will decide when the players can go on holiday.

"They will come back for a couple of days next week.

"I don’t see professionalism if we fly down together on Saturday and then on Sunday they fly here and there.

“You can imagine their approach if that happens. Imagine we say, 'From London you can fly where you want, Malta, Cyprus...' It’s not serious.

"They will be packing their bags now, and an hour before the end of the game they will be thinking we are off soon.

“They have 44 days' holidays. The minimum I am obliged to give them is 28, four weeks - 44 days is incredible. They have already had 100 days, probably!

“I don’t want to say 28, because for the modern football generation they will say, 'This is too tough', but 35 or 38?

“So we will fly back together and say thank you to everyone. We could have some fun together, maybe some games and little tournaments, and then they can go on holiday.

“If anybody has booked a holiday for Monday, they are going to lose some money. Why would they book a holiday on Monday? They are not being serious. They have to ask me.

“If they did it, it is wrong. If somebody gave them a chance to organise a holiday in January or February, it is wrong - they will lose 50% on their flights.

“I will see what happens on Sunday, then we will come back together, and I will tell them when their holidays start.”

Di Canio revealed he dished out envelopes at a team meeting, penalising stars two weeks' wages.

“There are many problems. In the last five days, I give out seven fines for silly things.

“For instance, I [will] say no names, but missing signing sessions.

“It is seven steps upstairs to the room. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. Every Friday morning, 20 items to sign. They forget! It’s in their contract. Just 20 signatures.

"It’s not fair. Before it happened many times. They didn’t get fined before, now they do.

“They have to start somewhere or never change - a small problem becomes a big problem. We have to respect rules, otherwise we never change. Seven in five days.

“I delivered the envelopes today and say, 'I have a fine for you. The maximum amount possible. You can appeal to the PFA if you want to but these are the rules.' People say it is too tough? No.”

There is relief at Sunderland that they can plan ahead as a top-flight club, and Di Canio doesn’t want them in a relegation scrap again.

(Image: Getty)

He added: “I didn’t celebrate [Wigan's defeat], it was difficult for me to celebrate. Obviously I was happy for Ellis, for the fans and the players. We have saved the club. I have delivered for them.

“When I received the call from the chairman at midnight, He sung me a song, it was amazing! I was laughing and smiling. It was fantastic. I believe in something special for him.

“I can’t tell you what he was singing. We have a chance to build something for the future. We need some players to join us, it will be tough but I prefer this.

“When a flower grows in front of you, the first days are crucial. Discipline can add six or seven points.

"You have a group of players that behave with strict discipline, more respect for each other, less problems. In the field you will see less anarchy.

"I’m sure we’re going to deliver a great job.”