PAOLO DI CANIO wants to bring in the right characters to lead Sunderland in to a bright new future under him rather than just target new players with obvious ability.

Having successfully steered the Black Cats away from relegation danger in his first six matches in charge, Di Canio has already turned his attention towards the summer and his first pre-season in charge.

Win or lose tomorrow's final day trip to Tottenham and Sunderland know top-flight football will still be played at the Stadium of Light next season, so he is keen to make quick progress on reshaping the squad in inherited from Martin O'Neill.

Since taking over at the beginning of April, Di Canio has been carrying out his own assessments of the players he has been working with and has ideas of those he would like to keep and those he would like to move on.

He accepts greater quality is required if Sunderland are to avoid a repeat of heading in to the last weekend of the season sitting fourth from bottom, the former Swindon boss thinks there is more to a good player than just skill.

"If I have got some players who go out often, two days before a game, get drunk or maybe have some big problems in their social life, that is the main problem," said Di Canio.

"If something is really wrong it is difficult for you to perform at a high level for many games. I look at you and if you are not ready to pay the price I am ready to argue with you, ready to blame you.

"Maybe in the field these are the ones who are going to be arrogant, like (Mario) Balotelli. Do what you want in a social life, but working, on the field, never running, blame someone if they have a bad touch. They are arrogant. It is the worst of the worst if you do not respect the rules.

"I am not Jesus and I cannot change a 32-year-old's mentality completely. It is difficult. For this we need the player who can have the more positive reception in their brain, that they can change as they are still fertile. Those you can help, but others it is difficult. We have to make sure we choose the right athlete."

Despite his big ideas for the close-season, which is likely to involve asking owner Ellis Short to invest strongly in his plans, Di Canio accepts there has been reasons to be encouraged.

As well as being without leading scorer Steven Fletcher since taking over, he has also been without Stephane Sessegnon and Connor Wickham at different times, while Danny Graham is yet to score. Regardless of the attacking problems he has encountered, Sunderland have still gained sufficient points to safeguard their Premier League future.

"Never say never but probably we are never going to win the league," said Di Canio. "We have to be honest but we are never going to suffer like we did in the last few years.

"For just two points we can finish tenth in the table. We are four points from West Ham. In the six games before Paolo Di Canio, two points. In the six games with Paolo Di Canio, eight points - without three strikers and two midfield players (Lee Cattermole and Craig Gardner). We were there grabbing. We can't play fantastic football without strikers. Eight points."

Sunderland's last three performances have not been impressive. After losing 6-1 at Aston Villa, they have stuttered to draws with Stoke City and Southampton.

But Di Canio said: "When I came this team was six games, two points. Then we faced Chelsea, Newcastle, Everton, Aston Villa and then Stoke. All teams that needed points like us. We stayed up not because Wigan lost but we got eight points in six games. Tough games.

"As I said the last two games at home would decide the season and the two points against Stoke and Southampton did. Imagine without those two points we would still go down? But with the same players we got eight points instead of two.

"Will we go down next year? Never going to happen. Instead of 38 I am sure we are going to make 47 points. You build the future in a different way. That is the destiny of any club. I didn't have this chance in the past as I am young as a manger. But for me mentality is different."

In knowing Sunderland will not be in the Championship next season, Di Canio remains reluctant to pit youngsters such as striker Mikael Mandron or right-back Liam Marrs in just for the experience.

"The last couple of days have been crucial to see how all the players have behaved," he said. "If I have to send a young player on I will do because they give me more guarantees he is going to run the way I want to see. Instead of an adult player who might think …

"But in my head there is a determination to send the best players out and try to get the best result. I don't want to finish fourth from the bottom."