Massimo Cellino has reportedly sacked Paddy Kenny because the players' birthday is on the 17th of May!

Kenny was omitted from the clubs' pre-season tour of Italy and many predicted his number was up after videos went viral on the net of him looking at least 17 stones in weight having returned for pre-season training grossly unfit.

However according to the Daily Star, Cellino's primary reason for dispensing with the services of Podgy Paddy was more to do with him being born on the 17th of May 1978 - Cellino believes the number 17 is unlucky and during his time at Cagliari he changed all the seat numbers from 17 to 16a.

Apparently Massimo believes that the 17th day of each month is cursed because Cagliari only won or drew a game once on the 17th of the month in 20 years. He also hates the colour purple.

Although I'm quite sceptical of superstition it is worth remembering that our greatest ever servant Don Revie had many quite similar quirks. Our celebrated manager during the glory days of 1961-1974 believed that the colour red was unlucky following a dream he had about red apples spilling out of a barrel prior to a defeat against Liverpool. Don always used to travel to work the same way and got anxious if he was held up at traffic lights. He also kept ornamental elephants on his mantlepiece which he would periodically rub for good luck. Then there was his lucky blue suit....

As for Paddy, although I appreciate he is one of these unfortunate people like yours truly who carries a few pounds and it shows, I was shocked at seeing those videos and disappointed that he'd let himself go. With rumours circulating that we've signed Reading keeper Stuart Taylor who's also played for Arsenal and Manchester City then it looks like Paddy Kenny will be a weight off Massimo's mind.

Photo: Action Images

TimWhelan added 13:29 - Jul 3 We've now signed Stuart Taylor on a one year contract.
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