Powell on di Canio

Radio 5 broadcast comments by Chris Powell on Paolo di Canio this morning which he apparently made after last night's game (the result of which was mentioned in passing). Having been named by di Canio as a best friend, my impression was that Sir Chris was trying to be diplomatic and non-commital while avoiding any endorsement of di Canio's views, which include a stated admiration for Mussolini (which it has to be said many other Italians share). Sir Chris said that di Canio should make his views clear, but that essentially it was a matter for him and Sunderland to deal with.

Then this evening Paul Mortimer was interviewed on Radio 5. Morts was quite judicious and showed some of the finesse he displayed on the pitch. To deconstruct and simplify what he was saying: 'perhaps di Canio was a racist once, but maybe he has seen the light and isn't any more.' Di Canio's latest statement certainly seems to have reassured some of his critics.

Powell told The Times: 'He was my team-mate and someone I’ve met socially and someone I’ve met since he has been a manager,” Sir Chris said. “And Sunderland have made a bold decision.

“I’m sure they knew what was coming. It’s remarkable really it never came up when he was manager of Swindon. But I feel that if he’s made statements about his political persuasion in the past, then he knows it will come up and he has to answer that. Sunderland know it’s a bold gamble because he has only managed at League One and League Two, so again that was a big decision by them.”

Powell described Di Canio as a “remarkable” player. “He did extremely well for Charlton, he was great as a team-mate and the supporters loved him, as they did at West Ham and Celtic and all the other clubs he played for,” he said. “I think now what everyone has to do ... he has to make his statement, if he wants to, about anything to do with his political views because that is something that is personal. And now it’s something that Sunderland and himself have got to get on with because they’ve got some key games to stay up. As far as I’m aware, that’s how it should be.”

It is perhaps not well known that di Canio is an accomplished cook and presented Alan Curbishley with a special Italian dessert he had made himself when he signed for Charlton.

My personal view, based on some knowledge of Italy which I have written about with Italians, is that di Canio is not a racist. Italian fascism is really an extreme form of nationalism and (although this is debated) was not especially anti-Semitic until the Nazis increased their grip on Italy. Having said that, my view is that Mussolini was an arrogant, bombastic, expletive deleted who did a lot of damage to Italy and led to the deaths of many British servicemen.

Don't think, however, that Italy is all gelati and pasta. I was speaking there during the Falklands War and there was a squad of riot police hiding round the corner ready to spring into action if a threatened attack occurred (it didn't). Once I was in Firenze and people there were upset by a former mayor being gunned down. I went on to Milano and mentioned this to a friend (admittedly her brother was inside having been a naughty boy with his machine gun) and she said, 'You don't understand, sometimes in our country these things have to happen.' Incidentally, her brother got out because they didn't get round to bringing charges.

The following item on radio 5 was also about Brighton, but this was about the issue of homophobic chanting. More on this story here: Chanting I was not aware of any from Charlton fans last night and the club was not specifically mentioned. [I have subsequently learnt from a CAS Trust tweet that Charlton supporters have been reported for homophobic abuse]. However, clearly the football has been overshadowed.

Morts backs Sir Chris

With Chris Powell's future at Charlton cast into doubt, Paul Mortimer has given the Addicks supremo a ringing endorsement in Pravda. Chris Powell will complete his century of games with Charlton on Boxing Day: let's hope it's not a hundred and out.

Morts warns that the South Londoners could face a fight in the future to keep the 43-year-old, one of the brightest young bosses in the game. 'He has done a fantastic job and Charlton's problem will be holding onto him,' said Mortimer, who played alongside the Valley manager when the club were in the top flight.

'It is great to see a young boss being given a chance, there are so many underneath. Chris is leading the way - and long may that continue. He has been nothing short of brilliant. It has been an incredibly successful period of time.'

'Charlton were fifth when he took over and they finished 13th that season - managers have lost their jobs for less than that. So the board have got what they deserved for backing him. That gave him confidence. He is a very good manager, no doubt, and things have gone from strength to strength.'

'The side had a sticky start in the Championship but he sprinkled some magic dust - he pulls people together and they play for him. He represented England, making his debut in his thirties, and there is very little he hasn't done. Players respect him straight off the bat.'

'Powelly is hard but he's fair. Honest and straightforward - you want to play for a person like that because they don't come along very often.'

Are Stoke the new Charlton?

That is the question posed here, although I find it difficult to see Tony Pulis as the new Alan Curbishley: Potters

Interesting to see former Addicks Paul Mortimer and John Salako interviewed on Sky News last night about the Rio Ferdinand tweet. Mortimer was interviewed with what appeared to be the women's team training in the background. He is a bit bulkier than I remember him, but always a favourite player of mine.

Elsewhere it has been reported that Oldham Athletic have ended their interest in Leon Clarke whom they were hoping to sign as part of a 'promotion push'. Following his loan spell at Crawley, I had forgotten he was on our books.

Jenkinson move 'took us by surprise'

Charlton academy supremo Steve Avory claims that the move of Carl Jenkinson to Arsenal took staff by surprise: Jenkinson . In the interview with Radio London he implies that the Finnish international would have benefitted from a year's further development at Charlton, although I am not surprised that he chose to join Arsenal.

I was disappointed to hear that the women's team have lost their centre of excellence status. I think that Morts has done a good job there.

Morts admits that he did not see the decision coming, but no fault attaches to him: Women

Unsung heroines

The Charlton ladies team have been gradually re-building under the guidance of Morts (a player I enjoyed watching) and now their reserve team has won promotion to the top flight: Ladies

There is a certain irony in the fact that promotion was gained after six points were awarded because of the failure of the Glaziers and the Skates to turn up for games.

The top reserve striker, a young lady called Alana Garratt, is certainly easier on the eye than Wayne Rooney.