Swindon boss Di Canio says ‘He will help pay to keep Danny Hollands on loan’

Paolo Di Canio has vowed to put his hand in his pocket to find the funds needed to keep promotion-chasing Swindon Town’s on-loan stars at the club.

Short-term deals for Chris Martin, Danny Hollands and John Bostock expired at the weekend and, with the Swindon board unwilling to fund extended deals, Di Canio again stole the headlines in a bid to keep his League One squad together.

Insisting he values victory more than money, the outspoken Italian told reporters: ‘I will do everything, even put in my money and I am not joking. I will put in something which is mad to keep those players.

‘Now I am here I am not a passive manager, because it is a shame to lose these players in this moment.

‘I will spend £20,000 or £30,000 and put my money in to keep them for as long as we can, because I care and I want to win. I’m sure with them we have more chance to win.’

I won’t sell my houses. But if £30,000 is enough, I’ll put it in.
Swindon have been among the biggest spenders in the lower leagues over the past 18 months but, after a Football League transfer embargo was imposed last autumn, Di Canio’s budget has been restricted. The embargo has now been lifted but the club’s owners have made it clear no new money will be made available in the January transfer window.

This news, clearly, has not gone down with their eccentric boss but Di Canio confessed even he is only prepared to go so far with his ‘mad’ gesture.

‘I am not going to sell my houses, but if £30,000 [is enough] I will put it in. [But] £300,000 is stupid,’ he added.

‘In terms of £20,000 or £30,000 I will for sure because I have ambition. I want to have less money and more success.’