No North East tears will be shed at the resignation of Fabio Capello. Mark Douglas reports on the departure of a manager who ignored the region – and why the future can only be brighter

IN four years spent in English football’s highest office, Fabio Capello bore witness to more live games at the San Siro than he did at both the Stadium of Light and St James’ Park combined.

In that time only one player eligible to play for England was on show in Milan – David Beckham.

Some 51 Englishmen have played regularly for Newcastle, Middlesbrough and Sunderland in the same period, not that the Italian seemed particularly concerned.

Quite why Capello saw fit to turn the region into some kind of sporting Siberia during his tenure is not clear, but it was a serious oversight from someone paid £5.2million to supposedly have his finger on the pulse of English football.

In fact, it was downright insulting to a region which boasts the third and seventh best supported sides in the country.

He was pressed on it only once, during a cosy sofa chat on Sky Sports when a presenter asked him about his lack of attendance at St James’ Park.

In creaking English he explained that he was supposed to visit once, when Manchester United were the opponents, but amid Arctic conditions in the North East his aeroplane developed a technical fault and he could not get airborne.

Somehow, that seems apt considering the frosty relationship which developed between bosses around here and England’s head coach.

For those who argue it is immaterial, consider the damage it has done to our region to have a disinterested man in charge of the Three Lions.

It cost Sunderland any chance of holding on to Darren Bent.

Black Cats fans might argue that Bent ended up chasing a bigger pay day in the Midlands and there may be merit in that viewpoint – but Capello’s counsel played a part.

The Journal understands the player was advised by the England manager Sunderland were too defensive in style to ever bring out the best in Bent.