Swindon Town chairman Wray backs Paolo di Canio passion

Chairman Wray says he is willing to meet Di Canio's demand for new players

Swindon Town chairman Jeremy Wray has voiced his support to manager Paolo di Canio after the Italian's post-match rant on Saturday.

Di Canio publicly criticised his side following their 1-1 draw with Bristol Rovers and demanded the club sign "four or five new players" in January.

"The manager is there to manage. I don't have an issue with him showing passion," Wray told BBC Wiltshire.

"He'll apologise for the expletives but not the passion behind them."

Wray added that he is acting on Di Canio's request for new signings when the transfer window re-opens: "We know what we are going for and what we are trying to do.

"We know the areas we need to improve and I think he's keen to do business at the beginning of the window so we are not trying to frantically look at it at the end. We've had our targets in place for a while."

Meanwhile, Wray revealed several clubs have expressed an interest in signing exiled striker Leon Clarke.

The 26-year-old joined Swindon in August but was sent to Chesterfield on loan after just 11 days following an on-field spat with Di Canio, and the Italian insisted he would never play for the club again.

Clarke's successful spell with the Spireites, in which he scored nine goals in 20 games, has now come to an end but he will not be allowed to join a new club until January.

"The situation with Leon is that he's doing well at Chesterfield and they are keen to hold on to him," added Wray.

"We've had enquiries from a few clubs and I think it's important we bottom those out and speak to his agent, to check that we've found somewhere where he's happy to go to.

"To come straight back in here wouldn't be appropriate. I imagine he'll look after himself, keep himself fit and then hope he gets something sorted quickly so he's playing football from the beginning of January."