David Miliband has resigned as vice-chairman of Sunderland after the club appointed Paolo Di Canio as the new manager.

The South Shields Labour MP, who announced he was quitting politics on March 26, said he was leaving the club "in the light of the new manager's past political statements".

Di Canio, who has made no secret of his fascist views,  has been handed a two-and-a-half year deal to become the new manager of Sunderland.

The controversial Italian has been linked with a number of jobs since resigning as Swindon Town boss in February but signed tonight after talks on Wearside.

He will spend this week on the training ground ahead of Sunday's trip to Chelsea.

The 44-year-old has fallen out with players, coaching staff and supporters during his career and has caused a stir for his strong political views and has previously freely talked about being a fascist.

In 2005 he was fined 7,000 euros and given a one match ban after appearing to give a straight-arm salute to fans while playing for Italian club Lazio.
At the time he told an Italian news agency: “I am a fascist, not a racist. The salute is aimed at my people. I don’t want to incite violence and certainly not racial hatred.”

The former Italian international will be faced with the short-term task of keeping Sunderland in the Premier League.

Martin O'Neill, sacked on Saturday night after a 1-0 defeat to Manchester United, has left the Black Cats sitting just a point sitting above the relegation zone with seven games remaining.