Trouble down t’mill (or the County Ground if you prefer)

I was stunned by the video of Paolo di Canio and new signing Leon Clarke having a bust up following Swindon’s 3-1 League Cup defeat to Southampton.

Of course it’s not unusual for players, coaches and managers to clash from time to time – it is a hard, physically demanding environment after all - but Clarke’s gripe seemed to be with the training methods. After a tough game he was being asked told to “run again tomorrow” and the player obviously felt he was being worked too hard.

Di Canio has had his squad working hard nearly every day and while some people may take the view that “they’re paid big wages and so should be made to train every day”, they are still human beings and their bodies need recovery time. It’s all about balance.

More worryingly for Swindon fans is the fact that Clarke has just signed a deal and immediately fallen out with the main man. And the main man looked like he was ready for a punch up himself – not want you want to see from the boss.

Di Canio has made no secret about his admiration for the dictator Mussolini, but he should be made aware that while he feels he’s Il Duce at Swindon, the players live in the real world and it’s one where they won’t be dictated to. Unless you do wield absolute power, it’s advisable to learn the arts of man management.

I saw Clarke against Oxford and frankly only he a Matt Ritchie looked like goal threats. Ritchie bagged one in that game and Clarke cam close only a couple of days after signing from QPR. He got into some good positions and showed that he could be a good asset. But now?

Di Canio has already fallen out with defender Joe Devera, allegedly, and this lad was no sulking kid at previous club Barnet. He played nearly two hundred games for them and so knows what it’s like in the lower leagues.

Former West Ham player di Canio needs to sort things out pretty quickly before discontent spreads like a virus through the dressing room.

Swindon chairman Jeremy Wray has promised to conduct a full investigation. I wonder whether this will include asking questions about the wisdom of appointing di Canio in the first place.

For me, di Canio isn’t a football manager and never will be until he curbs his more eccentric ways.

Whatever the outcome of this particular fracas, the Robins need to sort themselves out pretty quickly. One win and three points for the season so far is the really worrying stat.

It’s Rotherham up next in the league though and fortunately for Swindon, goal machine Adam ‘Alfie’ Le Fondre has jumped ship to Reading. Mind you the Millers still stuffed Gillingham 3-0 on Saturday without him and I’m sure that manager and former Oxford player Andy Scott will still want to top the league on Saturday evening.

Losing to Southampton in the cup is no disgrace. The Saints have an exceptional squad and a cool, calm and measured manager in former physio Nigel Adkins. Paolo take note; being a great player doesn’t necessarily translate into being a great manager.