Paolo Di Canio: Raider of the County Ground

Di Canio during his time at West Ham

Former Swindon town manager, Paolo Di Canio broke into the manager’s office at County Ground using keys he previously owned before his resignation.

The former West Ham player explained that he broke into the office to retrieve back mementos of his 21 months in charge at the club. He caused damage to the office by taking down pictures from the walls, which were present from his successful stint there.

CCTV footage showed Di Canio breaking in along with an accomplice in the early hours of Thursday. The club has decided not to take any action, and no report has been filed with the police.

Swindon won 3-1 at Tranmere less than 24 hours later after the incident, with assistant Fabrizio Piccareta managing the team. Swindon went to the top of the table, but Piccareta also resigned at full time, along with goalkeeping coach Domenico Doardo, fitness coach Claudio Donatelli and first-team masseur Giulio Viscardi.

Di Canio said: “The club have still not responded to my letter of resignation of February 12, but instead have put out a wholly misleading version of events in their statement.”

In August 2011, the Italian was caught on camera arguing with striker Leon Clarke after the team got knocked out of the Carling Cup by Southampton, and last September, goalkeeper Wes Foderingham and he had a verbal duel after the custodian was substituted 21 minutes into a game against Preston.

West Ham co-owner David Gold has denied reports linking Di Canio with a job at Upton Park.

“I want to make this clear: there is no managerial vacancy for Paolo or anyone else at the club,” said Gold.