The Martin O'Neill thread (with added sacking #2188)

[PeterWithesShin]

Dave Hopper the General Secretary of the Durham Miners' Association is writing to Sunderland Football Club to demand the return of the Wearmouth Miners' Banner, which is on permanent display in the Stadium of Light, in protest at the decision to appoint the self-confessed fascist, Paolo Di Canio, as their head coach.
Mr Hopper, who worked for 27 years as a miner at Wearmouth Colliery, the site on which the Stadium of Light now stands, described Di Canio's appointment as an outrage and a betrayal of all those who fought and died fighting fascism.

He said,"I like many thousands of miners have supported Sunderland from infancy and are passionate about football. But, there are principles which are much more important.

"Our banner represents the Durham miners' long struggle for the rights of the working class, rights which were annihilated by fascism in Germany, Italy, Spain and Chile.

"We have a sacred obligation to the millions who were wiped out by Hitler, Mussolini and Franco to oppose fascism wherever and in whatever context this evil creed raises its head particularly at a time when working people are again being forced to pay for capitalism's crisis as they were in Europe in the 1920s and 30s.
 "The appointment of Di Canio is a disgrace and a betrayal of all who fought and died in the fight against fascism.

"Everyone must speak out an oppose this outrage and call on Ellis Short and the Sunderland Board to reverse their decision."

[TonyD]

I really think this appointment at Sunderland is going to go sour. 

[Tucson Villain]

His appointment has even made the news on the radio out here.

[VillaBobby]

Dave Hopper the General Secretary of the Durham Miners' Association is writing to Sunderland Football Club to demand the return of the Wearmouth Miners' Banner, which is on permanent display in the Stadium of Light, in protest at the decision to appoint the self-confessed fascist, Paolo Di Canio, as their head coach.
Mr Hopper, who worked for 27 years as a miner at Wearmouth Colliery, the site on which the Stadium of Light now stands, described Di Canio's appointment as an outrage and a betrayal of all those who fought and died fighting fascism.

He said,"I like many thousands of miners have supported Sunderland from infancy and are passionate about football. But, there are principles which are much more important.

"Our banner represents the Durham miners' long struggle for the rights of the working class, rights which were annihilated by fascism in Germany, Italy, Spain and Chile.

"We have a sacred obligation to the millions who were wiped out by Hitler, Mussolini and Franco to oppose fascism wherever and in whatever context this evil creed raises its head particularly at a time when working people are again being forced to pay for capitalism's crisis as they were in Europe in the 1920s and 30s.
 "The appointment of Di Canio is a disgrace and a betrayal of all who fought and died in the fight against fascism.

"Everyone must speak out an oppose this outrage and call on Ellis Short and the Sunderland Board to reverse their decision."

Were these same minors so offended when one of their players tweeted about his support for the IRA?

[Billy Walker]

Dave Hopper the General Secretary of the Durham Miners' Association is writing to Sunderland Football Club to demand the return of the Wearmouth Miners' Banner, which is on permanent display in the Stadium of Light, in protest at the decision to appoint the self-confessed fascist, Paolo Di Canio, as their head coach.
Mr Hopper, who worked for 27 years as a miner at Wearmouth Colliery, the site on which the Stadium of Light now stands, described Di Canio's appointment as an outrage and a betrayal of all those who fought and died fighting fascism.

He said,"I like many thousands of miners have supported Sunderland from infancy and are passionate about football. But, there are principles which are much more important.

"Our banner represents the Durham miners' long struggle for the rights of the working class, rights which were annihilated by fascism in Germany, Italy, Spain and Chile.

"We have a sacred obligation to the millions who were wiped out by Hitler, Mussolini and Franco to oppose fascism wherever and in whatever context this evil creed raises its head particularly at a time when working people are again being forced to pay for capitalism's crisis as they were in Europe in the 1920s and 30s.
 "The appointment of Di Canio is a disgrace and a betrayal of all who fought and died in the fight against fascism.

"Everyone must speak out an oppose this outrage and call on Ellis Short and the Sunderland Board to reverse their decision."

Were these same minors so offended when one of their players tweeted about his support for the IRA?

The IRA were socialists so no ideological conflict there (!)

[Davey B]

http://safc.com/news/team-news/2013/april/free-video-di-canio-interview

[VillaBobby]

Dave Hopper the General Secretary of the Durham Miners' Association is writing to Sunderland Football Club to demand the return of the Wearmouth Miners' Banner, which is on permanent display in the Stadium of Light, in protest at the decision to appoint the self-confessed fascist, Paolo Di Canio, as their head coach.
Mr Hopper, who worked for 27 years as a miner at Wearmouth Colliery, the site on which the Stadium of Light now stands, described Di Canio's appointment as an outrage and a betrayal of all those who fought and died fighting fascism.

He said,"I like many thousands of miners have supported Sunderland from infancy and are passionate about football. But, there are principles which are much more important.

"Our banner represents the Durham miners' long struggle for the rights of the working class, rights which were annihilated by fascism in Germany, Italy, Spain and Chile.

"We have a sacred obligation to the millions who were wiped out by Hitler, Mussolini and Franco to oppose fascism wherever and in whatever context this evil creed raises its head particularly at a time when working people are again being forced to pay for capitalism's crisis as they were in Europe in the 1920s and 30s.
 "The appointment of Di Canio is a disgrace and a betrayal of all who fought and died in the fight against fascism.

"Everyone must speak out an oppose this outrage and call on Ellis Short and the Sunderland Board to reverse their decision."

Were these same minors so offended when one of their players tweeted about his support for the IRA?

The IRA were socialists so no ideological conflict there (!)

The IRA were/are terrorists who killed 21 of my fellow Brummies and injured another 178.

[cdbearsfan]

Dave Hopper the General Secretary of the Durham Miners' Association is writing to Sunderland Football Club to demand the return of the Wearmouth Miners' Banner, which is on permanent display in the Stadium of Light, in protest at the decision to appoint the self-confessed fascist, Paolo Di Canio, as their head coach.
Mr Hopper, who worked for 27 years as a miner at Wearmouth Colliery, the site on which the Stadium of Light now stands, described Di Canio's appointment as an outrage and a betrayal of all those who fought and died fighting fascism.

He said,"I like many thousands of miners have supported Sunderland from infancy and are passionate about football. But, there are principles which are much more important.

"Our banner represents the Durham miners' long struggle for the rights of the working class, rights which were annihilated by fascism in Germany, Italy, Spain and Chile.

"We have a sacred obligation to the millions who were wiped out by Hitler, Mussolini and Franco to oppose fascism wherever and in whatever context this evil creed raises its head particularly at a time when working people are again being forced to pay for capitalism's crisis as they were in Europe in the 1920s and 30s.
 "The appointment of Di Canio is a disgrace and a betrayal of all who fought and died in the fight against fascism.

"Everyone must speak out an oppose this outrage and call on Ellis Short and the Sunderland Board to reverse their decision."

Were these same minors so offended when one of their players tweeted about his support for the IRA?

You on about McLean? I heard he chose not to wear a poppy which is, in my opinion, entirely up to him.

I've not heard him say he supports the IRA, got a link?

[PeterWithesShin]

McClean had already irritated O’Neill by re-opening his Twitter account earlier this year, despite repeated warnings not to do so, and has now breached club rules regarding the use of social networking sites for the third time in 18 months.
The Republic of Ireland international from Derry, who rejected the chance to play for Northern Ireland and refused to wear a poppy on his Sunderland shirt to commemorate Remembrance Day, professed his love on Twitter last week for the song, The Broad Black Brimmer.
The song is about a boy whose father is killed fighting for the IRA and is a reference to the wide-brimmed hats worn by IRA members during the Irish War of Independence in the 1920s.
The 23-year-old’s problems are not confined to misguided use of the internet as he has also become isolated at the training ground.
Telegraph Sport understands McClean has annoyed team-mates with his attitude in training and is in danger of becoming ostracised. Coaching staff have noted his aloofness and O’Neill is wary of rifts growing. Unless there is a marked improvement between now and the end of the season, McClean is likely to be sold in the summer.

[lovejoy]

The Ulster paramilitaries are racists in as much as they control the neighbourhoods and derive income from illegal activities. INLA were more socialist.

[cdbearsfan]

Sounds like a song written during a Civil War, doesn't suggest he supports terrorism to me.

[dave.woodhall]

Hold it right there. One more Northern Ireland post and this thread gets locked.

[VillaBobby]

http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/local/all-news/sunderland-s-james-mcclean-shuts-down-twitter-account-after-ira-row-1-5452025

The fella should keep his opinions to himself as it is offensive to some.

[damon loves JT]

I have a nasty feeling that the controversy of appointing di canio will create a siege mentality.

It really isn't too late for Sunderland to swoop for Terry Connor.

[PeterWithesShin]

http://www.sunderlandecho.com/news/local/all-news/sunderland-s-james-mcclean-shuts-down-twitter-account-after-ira-row-1-5452025

The fella should keep his opinions to himself as it is offensive to some.

You just couldn't stop yourself could you, so i've done it for you.