PAOLO Di Canio’s promotion pledge to the Swindon fans was the only thing that stopped him walking out of the club six weeks ago, but now he has delivered on his promise he is already looking forward to pushing for a second straight promotion.

Town’s place in League One was confirmed on Saturday as results went their way despite a 3-1 defeat at Gillingham, but for reasons he will never divulge he was close to leaving the club 45 days ago.

The Italian insisted he is no longer considering walking away from the County Ground, but admitted it would have been a real possibility had it not been for the affection he has for the fans.

“I tell you all a secret I have never said before, I am never going to tell you why, but 45 days ago I nearly resigned my contract,” he said.

“I was nearly to resign, but the reason I did not do this is because I promised the fans at the beginning of the season that we would go up.

“But then I thought, this team without Paolo Di Canio is capable of losing 13 games in a row, they proved that in the last two games, because they switched off.

“Thirteen games ago this team was not capable without Paolo Di Canio and his technical staff of not going up straight away, but out of the play-off positions too.

“The players will never say, ‘yes this is true’, but I know why, and for this reason I did not resign for the respect of the fans and the board.

“I spent one hour in my house speaking to myself and I told myself my words matter more than a contract.”

Di Canio is no longer considering leaving Swindon, and is already focused on completing his promise and taking the club into the Championship as long as the club’s board maintain their current level of ambition.

“We are half way, and it is obvious I have to sit down with the board and listen to what is the plan for the future,” he said.

“I hope nothing changes because if it has it is a story which from beautiful can become a thousand other stories.

“Even if we have a good plan next year it will be tough, because there are many clubs with potential to go up straightaway, and the other four will try and go up through the play offs.

“The clubs relegated from the Championship will be the best potential, and there are more in League One who will try again.

“We can do something special because the fans are amazing and the Town is fantastic, and we want more happiness moments for the fans.

“We want to complete the jobs they could not do a few summers ago after they lost the play-off final.”