It has been suggested that the furore over Paolo Di Canio becoming Sunderland manager is merely the work of political opportunists and the media.

Today's passionate open letter to Di Canio, written by the Dean of Durham, The Very Reverend Michael Sadgrove, shows that concerns over the appointment go much deeper than that.

Dean Sadgrove is not a political firebrand, a journalist or headline-seeker. He is a highly-respected pillar of the community, a son of a Jewish war refugee, and a Sunderland supporter. He had genuine, heart-felt concerns about whether or not his team's new manager was or wasn't a fascist and asked for clarification.

I don't know if it was in response to Dean Sadgrove's letter but that clarification has now come in the form of a statement from Di Canio in which he says he "is not a racist and does not support the ideaology of fascism".

It was an answer which needed to be given and the opportunity to do so in an unequivocal way was repeatedly missed at yesterday's press conference.

That was a mistake. Sunderland appointed David Miliband as vice chairman in full knowledge that he was a high-profile politician and hoping to benefit from the association and contacts. You can't then play the "keep the politics out of football card" when it goes wrong. You can't have it both ways.

Mr Miliband's decision to quit amplified the story, had an inevitable knock-on effect, and was bound to be the focus of attention at yesterday's press conference. What were the journalists expected to do? Ignore the biggest talking point in the North-East - because, make no mistake, that's what it has been this week.

The boil will not have been totally lanced but this afternoon's statement will certainly help and should have been made sooner.

Sunderland need every supporter on side. Michael Sadgrove has welcomed the public assurance he asked for and so will many others who shared his concerns.

 

It is to be hoped that Paolo Di Canio's answer is as sincere as the question he was posed by the Dean of Durham.