Paolo di Canio voices commitment to Swindon Town
Last updated on .From the section Football
Swindon Town manager Paolo di Canio has said he would be prepared to sign an extended contract with the club.
The former West Ham striker, 43, joined the Robins on a two-year deal in May and has helped them become promotion contenders in League Two.
Speaking at Tuesday's fans' forum, he told BBC Wiltshire: "I want to stay.
"Obviously I don't ask them to prepare the contract but I'm ready to extend it if they want to because I feel completely part of this family."
He continued: "I want to be part of the plans for three or four years.
"I don't want to leave until I've done my job properly. The plan is to go up to League One and then think about the next step in the Championship.
"If we can't do this in four years you must sack me."
Swindon is Di Canio's first managerial role and the flamboyant Italian had an unsteady start to his tenure - his new-look squad only managed one win from their first five league games.
And while critics were questioning his credentials as a boss, Di Canio's attitude was called into question after a public bust-up with loanee Leon Clarke, which resulted in the striker leaving for Chesterfield after just three weeks at the County Ground.
But after an impressive 3-2 win over then unbeaten Rotherham, Swindon - and Di Canio - have found their stride and have only lost once in 12 league games, also reaching the FA Cup second round and area semi-final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
"As a man I have improved as well as a manager," he continued. "I've made many mistakes and I still make mistakes but I think a good manager is a man who knows how to react to mistakes.
"I hope I'm keeping in time with where I promised this club would be at the beginning of the season. It's not been easy but with the support I've had we will fight to the end to go straight up to League One.
"With West Ham I have a special relationship. I have a tattoo of them. But Swindon are my first club. I am completely dedicated to this club. Maybe at the end of the season I will extend the tattoos on my body and get a Swindon one if we win the league.
"West Ham was my second home but in the last six months I've had the same feeling here and I hope this story can keep going. I hope one day that I can go back to Italy and think about Swindon as my second team."
