'Sinner' Hoddle to return to Saints

Glenn Hoddle will make a remarkable and controversial return to management at Southampton this month, just under three years after he walked out on the club for Tottenham.

Hoddle's appointment could be confirmed by the end of this week, with Southampton's chairman Rupert Lowe convinced the former England coach is the right man despite opposition from some fans.

Southampton supporters sang anti-Hoddle songs and asked "Are you listening Rupert Lowe?" during last weekend's draw against Fulham and similar chants may be heard tonight at Arsenal, where Gordon Strachan takes charge of the team for probably the last time. Yet Lowe is adamant Hoddle should be given the chance to continue the work he started before departing abruptly for Spurs.

Southampton were eighth in the Premiership and had won five successive matches when, in March 2001, Hoddle made himself deeply unpopular with the club's followers by leaving for Spurs and then returning to buy Dean Richards. Lowe has chosen to ignore the rancour and remember the coaching skills Hoddle displayed during his 14-month stay.

Cheered into White Hart Lane, Hoddle departed a failure, sacked last September with the club in the Premiership's bottom three. Lowe would be happy to see Hoddle booed into St Mary's and duly deliver success. He chose the 46-year-old ahead of Franchman Alain Perrin, who led Marseille into this season's Champions League but was sacked last month.

It will shock many that Southampton have turned back to Hoddle after the nature of his departure. Lowe was upset that Hoddle did not inform him of Spurs's interest straight away and said he was "disappointed that Glenn had chosen to turn his back on the club that gave him the opportunity to resume his career in top-flight management and on a squad . . . (which) had given him their unconditional loyalty".

Yet most of Lowe's anger was directed at Tottenham, whom he described as "north London yobbos", and it was notable that he publicly shook hands with Hoddle at White Hart Lane when the teams met there early the following season.

Hoddle's reputation has suffered as a result of his time at Spurs but Southampton credit him with beginning the revolution which carried them from being a struggling or lower mid-table team into one capable of qualifying for Europe. Lowe said when Hoddle left that the team were playing "exciting" football and the club believe he can repeat that.

Hoddle's coaching has generally been highly regarded but serious doubts have been raised about his man-management since his time with England. Several players who worked with him at Spurs criticised his communication skills. Tim Sherwood, Teddy Sheringham and Steffen Freund left Tottenham on bad terms with Hoddle. But Southampton clearly feel their experience with him makes man-management concerns either a non-issue or of sufficiently limited importance.

Hoddle's arrival will bring a premature end to the reign of Strachan, who announced that he would not renew his contract at the end of the season.

It was Southampton who offered Hoddle a route back into football in January 2000 after he was dismissed by England and the club have been his saviour again. He had been strongly linked with taking over at Nottingham Forest.

Ironically, it was a 3-1 home defeat by Southampton on September 20 which spelled the end for Hoddle at Spurs. James Beattie scored twice and is one of more than half a dozen players who remain from Hoddle's first stint at Southampton. Others include Jason Dodd, Marian Pahars and Claus Lundekvam. It would be a surprise if Hoddle is not joined at St Mary's by his trusted No2 John Gorman.

Jose Reyes is set to start for Arsenal at home to Southampton tonight as Dennis Bergkamp is ruled out through injury. With Fredrik Ljungberg sidelined with a rib injury, and Sylvain Wiltord, Jeremie Aliadiere and Kanu also absent, Reyes will partner Thierry Henry up front.

Meanwhile, Leeds will be desperate to snap a six-game losing sequence at Elland Road against Wolves. And Leicester City, who have gone 10 league games without a win and have conceded eight goals in their last two games, will host Bolton Wanderers (live on Sky Sports 2, 8.0 p.m.).