Paolo Di Canio has laid the blame for Sunderland s Premier League struggles firmly at owner Ellis Short s door, not his successor Gus Poyet.
The Italian who spent around six months in charge at the Stadium of Light in 2013 was reacting after Sunderland fell to a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday, leaving them just above the bottom three.
I don t know what s happening now, but it looks like the team is drifting, Di Canio told Fox Sports.
It s not Poyet s fault, because chairman Ellis Short is the real origin of all these troubles. I saved Sunderland when the club was sinking; along with my staff, I completed a true miracle, on and off the pitch.
We tried to change the philosophy of the team: in the two previous years, no fines were given, despite of players getting drunk and partying until late, even a few days before a match.
I was giving fines even for [players being] five minutes late. It s fundamental, to keep order in the dressing room. I took all the responsibilities, but my project was immediately cut off.
It was a choice which came from above.
I don t want to blame Poyet, but if you re afraid to fine one of your players, then you have to expect some troubles.
