Former Chelsea and West Brom boss Roberto Di Matteo is not convinced that succeeding his compatriot Paolo Di Canio at Sunderland is the right move for him.

Di Matteo led Chelsea to Champions League glory before he was sacked last season and remains out of work.
The Italian has been made the favourite with bookmakers to take the vacant post at the Stadium of Light, however, a report in the Daily Telegraph claims that he is unconvinced in taking the position.

Owner Ellis Short is yet to draw up a shortlist of potential candidates and has elected to await applications before doing so – other names such as Watford boss Gianfranco Zola, Blackpool manager Paul Ince and Gus Poyet have also been linked with the job.


While Short will consult the advice of director of football Roberto De Fanti on who to appoint as Di Canio’s successor, former Sunderland manager Steve Bruce says that the Italian’s lack of man management skills lost him his job.

“You cannot manage in the Premier League these days through a fear factor,” Bruce told talkSPORT. “You’ve got to be able to manage individuals.

“Man management has become more relevant in my experience than coaching. Once you get yourself in the Premier League, they’re all good players and you’ve got to find a way of getting the best out of them.
“It’s never been my style to criticise anyone in public and I’m disappointed for Paolo. He’s a character. A manager’s lost his job.

“Management is a lonely place and he’s lost his job. I feel sorry for any manager in that position. I’ve gone through it and it’s not nice.”