PAOLO DI CANIO'S appointment as Sunderland boss appears to have caused something of a furore in the more sanctimonious of our national newspapers, which has puzzled me.

I wondered where the headlines were regarding Paolo the 'fascist' during the two years when he was Swindon Town manager?

To suggest it only became an 'issue' when Di Canio took up a high profile role as a Premier League boss is disrespectful to the Football League.

Or to claim that David Milliband's resignation from the Sunderland board on apparent moral grounds was the catalyst for the tales appears to be disingenuous.

To my knowledge there has never been any suggestion of him displaying any racist tendencies.

And while he allegedly admitted to being a fascist in one newspaper interview some years ago and undoubtedly was the darling of right-wing supporters during his spell at Lazio, where I’m sure he enjoyed the adulation, the concept of fascism is very complicated and has many levels and different interpretations.

Looking at the appointment in purely footballing terms, it is clearly a gamble on Ellis Short’s part.

But you actually have to admire Short’s courage in going for someone who might prove to be a disaster or equally might prove to be an inspired choice, as opposed to playing safe and going for a ‘tried and trusted’ Premier League manager.

Tried and trusted does not always work, as Peter Reid demonstrated at Leeds and neither, of course, does the ‘fans’ choice’ – remember Alan Shearer at Newcastle?

Di Canio is none of those things, but his appointment brings an element of excitement and unpredictability that might be exactly what is needed to galvanise an under-performing group of players at the Stadium of Light.

Much of the previous publicity surrounding Di Canio could be ascribed to his honesty and his refusal to accept anything less than he believes to be the best or at the very least any lowering of standards.

But if Di Canio starts off well at Sunderland and manages to keep them up this season, all this unseemly publicity will soon be forgotten.