Paolo Di Canio the favourite as Reading lose faith in Brian McDermott

Paolo Di Canio is the leading candidate to replace Brian McDermott, who was sacked by Reading's Russian owner Anton Zingarevich today with the club 19th in the Premier League and four points from safety. Di Canio, 44, who left Swindon last month, was at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday to watch McDermott's last game in charge, a 2-1 defeat to fellow strugglers Aston Villa. He has been suggested as a potential successor to McDermott despite never having managed above League One. In a statement released by Reading at 5.30pm today, a spokesman for the club said that "in our current situation, owner Anton Zingarevich felt that a change was necessary". The new...