Confirmed: De Fanti Dumped By Sunderland

Much-maligned Sunderland Director of Football Roberto De Fanti has left the club.

It is 'understood' that the Italian has paid the price for Sunderland's extremely poor start to the season which placed, and still does, their Premier League status in serious jeopardy.

As for the decision itself, it is quite difficult to know what to make of it. Sunderland's summer was very much a mixed bag in terms of recruitment. The likes of Ki Sung-Yueng, Fabio Borini, Emanuele Giaccherini and Vito Mannone have impressed. Others have shown glimpses though generally struggled and a few have flat-out flopped. Without knowing the specifics of the financial arrangements, it is all quite tough to judge really.

You also wonder if the timing - coming on the same day that Ji Dong-won's move for a pittance to Dortmund was confirmed - had a little something to do with it too. Sunderland infamously turned down a big bid in the summer for the Korean, although Paolo Di Canio took the can for that decision.

All in all, it's a bit of a curious affair really. Hopefully it won't adversely affect the club's January plans, but I doubt many fans will really be all that bothered at all. The big question will be whether De Fanti going means the Director of Football model in general being canned, but I suppose time will tell on that.

At least it's never quiet, eh?