England offer has Hoddle in a muddle

CHELSEA were last night fighting to persuade Glenn Hoddle that a future with the Blues was brighter than one with England.

Were they to succeed, the English Football Association are believed already to have sounded out alternative successors to Terry Venables, the retiring England coach. They are thought to be Frank Clark and Howard Wilkinson, the managers of Nottingsham Forest and Leeds United respectively.

Chelsea's effort was led by Matthew Harding, the club's vice chairman, who spent almost four hours with Hoddle in an unknown home counties location. In the meeting, the millionaire out lined his dream of a partnership between Harding and Hoddle which would make Chelsea a power in the football world.

Meanwhile, Ken Bates, the club chairman, was locked in discussions with Hoddle's agent. He also weighed in with a counterattack, accusing the FA of breaking their own rules by approaching Hoddle before asking permission from himself.

Bates is fuming. "I'm very disappointed with the FA. If they had Glenn on their short list they should have approached him a month or so ago so the matter could have been resolved" he said.

"It's very bad behaviour on their part to leave it so late. And I understand they approached him yesterday before they approached the club, so they are probably technically in breach of some of their own rules. But anarchy rules these days."

The approach was first confirmed by Harding yesterday morning. It had been made he said, on Tuesday.

Before going into yesterday's meeting, Harding said. "I've got to convince Glenn that we can give him three to four years of more fulfilling football management than England can."

Afterwards he said I am doing everything I can to keep him at Chelsea. That we are still talking is a good sign. A lot of, people thought it would just be 10 minutes over a cold cup of coffee and Glenn saying that's it, I'm off bay `thank you' to everyone at Chelsea."

Hoddle said. "I've got, a few hours, a few days, to chew it over. There are obviously other issues as well." Hoddle would not go into those, but one of them is bound to be the continuing boardroom wrangling at Chelsea between Bates and Harding.

Terry Phelan, who Hoddle signed earlier this season, admitted "I don't think he knows whether he's coming or going, he's tried his best."

The dispute, which at one stage was bitterly conducted through the tabloid press, has calmed, but Harding is yet to find a way to persuade Bates to relinquish control to him.

But yesterday Bates insisted "However, the whole matter has to be resolved this week. We've been very patient with Glenn but we are rapidly getting a situation where we could possibly finish up without a manager, going into the summer looking for one.

"That is unacceptable and unfair to Chelsea Football Club and their fans so I think it is make your mind up time."

Bates, talking exclusively to the Chelsea Clubcall, added "If he, does decide to go for the England job I wish him all the luck in the world because frankly, he is going to need it.

Hoddle may be using England's interest to lever either change at Chelsea, or better terms for himself. He is certainly thought to have been made an offer far in excess of the likely £250,000 a year for managing England. Then again, he may have delayed signing a new contract (his present one expires this summer) in the hope of his country calling him.

Bates was quick to dispel suggestions that Ruud Gullit might assist Hoddle in the England job. "There is no way he is leaving." He is under exclusive contract with this club until June 1997 and under no circumstances will we release him."

Gullit said he was "surprised" at the speculation and added "I am enjoying myself at the club at the moment and all I want to do is play football. We will have to wait to see what Glenn does. I am happy they have given him the opportunity. If he takes the job, it would mean things changing at Chelsea, but you cannot think only of yourself."

Hoddle was believed to have had a lengthy discussion with Jimmy Armfield, the FA's special adviser, over the England job. The full implications of the job may only have become apparent when he woke up to find reporters camping on his Ascot doorstep yesterday morning.