RUSSELL Backhouse will not be leaving the Swindon Town board, contrary to suggestions made by manager Paolo Di Canio, according to majority shareholder Andrew Black.

On Monday, when news of former chairman Jeremy Wray’s removal broke, it was suggested that Backhouse - a director of the club who originally arrived at the County Ground as part of the consortium which saved the Robins from impending liquidation in 2008 - could resign his post.

However, in an email to the Advertiser yesterday, Black - who has pumped millions of pounds into the club over the past four years - nonsensed the claims.

He wrote: “I saw that it was suggested that Russell is off the board - that is not true.”

The intimations that Backhouse could also leave Swindon were first mooted in a statement from Di Canio, released to the Advertiser on Monday evening.

In it he wrote: “I am very sad that Jeremy Wray has been replaced as the chairman of Swindon Town, as I know this is something that he didn’t want.

“I have also been informed that in view of this decision, one of the directors, Russell Backhouse may also step down from the board.

“It is important for me to have a team around me that I can trust.

“Jeremy Wray and Russell Backhouse, Phil Spencer and myself have worked tirelessly as a team to bring success to this club but now with Jeremy going and Russell potentially soon to depart, half of that team may soon be taken away.”