Former Sunderland defender Michael Gray admits he was taken aback by the decision to part company with Di Canio and feels the Italian should have been given longer to try to turn things round.

Di Canio parts company with Sunderland following premier league 3-0 defeat to West Bromwich Albion.”I’m surprised that Paolo’s lost his job,” Gray told Sky Sports News.

“You obviously don’t get time in the Premier League to let the players gel, you’ve got to hit the ground running and obviously they haven’t done that. It’s been a disappointing start but I still think he should have been given a lot more time than he has been.”