The dismissal of Paolo di Canio will leave a skeleton staff at Sunderland.

The Daily Mail says following his controversial appointment, he was given full rein to pick his backroom staff.

Fabrizio Piccareta, who was his assistant at previous club Swindon Town, joined him as first-team coach. Domenico Doardo joined as goalkeeping coach, Claudio Donatelli joined as fitness coach, and Giulio Viscardi completed the new-look backroom staff as physiotherapist and masseur.

The four all served alongside Di Canio at Swindon from May 2011 to February 2013. Steve Walford, Steve Guppy, Jim Henry and Seamus McDonagh all followed Martin O'Neill out of the club.