Saint Glenn

Hoddle has been handed a 12-month contract while current manager Dave Jones takes leave to deal with his impending court case over alleged child abuse, which he denies.

Hoddle, who has been out of the game since being sacked as England manager over comments deemed critical of disabled people last February, will be joined at The Dell by his former England assistant John Gorman, who has left his position at Reading.

The former Spurs and Monaco midfielder said he was "delighted" with his new position.

"It is a big challenge and I am looking forward to it. I have been out of the game for almost a year now but I've recharged the batteries and I'm looking forward to the challenge.

"I'm delighted to be able to offer mine and John's services to Southampton at this time."

Hoddle was adamant he was ready to tackle a high-profile job again within a year of been dismissed from the England job.

"The experience of managing England was a superb experience.

"There are a lot of quality players here at The Dell. We've got to get points on the board. The most important thing is that we've got to maintain our Premiership status."

Asked if he regretted making public his controversial views on re-incarnation, which outraged disabled groups, Hoddle replied: "'I'm glad you asked me that question because I didn't say those things.

"I was misquoted. I've never believed that disabled people were being punished and it's unfortunate that disabled people got upset about it.

"Dave is going through a very difficult time at the moment and I can understand that because I went through a difficult time too."

Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe spoke of his delight at the prospect of working with Hoddle.

"I'm delighted with Glenn and I'm very much looking forward to working with him," he said.

Lowe also revealed Jones had accepted the unanimous decision of the board to relieve him of his duties for 12 months, on full pay, "extremely well".

"Everyone at the club wishes him all the best and we will do anything we can to help prove his innocence.

"I think we have done the human thing and given Dave 12 months compassionate leave, to clear his name which I'm sure he'll do."

Lowe remained evasive however on what would happen 12 months down the line should Jones be acquitted of the 13 charges he is facing.

"We do not know what is around the corner but our main priority is not 12 months down the line but the next three months and safeguarding our Premiership status."

Jones' court case over alleged child abuse begins on November 27.

Lowe said the club were dismayed at the perceived "sloth" of bringing the charges facing Jones to court.

He said the Southampton board feared the obvious pressure facing the former Stockport boss could have a detrimental effect on the club, and in turn its commercial activities.

He did not rule out the club taking legal action to recover any financial losses should Jones by acquitted.

Hoddle said he was looking forward to working again with the enigmatic Matt Le Tissier.

"I brought Matt into the England squad and gave him chances at international level.

"He's injured at the moment but he's still got the ability to be one of the best players in the Premiership if we can get him fit."

Hoddle, who takes charge of the Saints for the first time when West Ham visit The Dell a week tomorrow, admitted he had earlier chances to get back into management but felt that now was the right time to return.

"I've had other opportunities to return to football but the timing wasn't quite right. This is the right time for me and I'm up for the challenge."

Matt Le Tissier today admitted he has no axe to grind with Hoddle despite being bombed out of the England squad during Hoddle's reign.

Le Tissier appeared on the brink of a recall to the national team when he scored a hat-trick while on 'B' duty in a game against Russia in April 1998.

But the attacking midfielder was surprisingly overlooked as Hoddle never considered him again, although Le Tissier is prepared to bury the hatchet in a bid to ensure the Saints stay in the Premiership.

"I don't bear grudges," confirmed Le Tissier, who has been plagued by a catalogue of injuries this season which have hampered his form and progress.

"I got on with Glenn for a while, then he didn't pick me after the England 'B' game.

"But I've seen him a couple of times since then and we've had a chat and we certainly didn't part on bad terms."

Hoddle factfile

1957 - Born in Hayes, Middlesex.

1975 - Becomes a professional footballer with Tottenham Hotspur having joined the club as an apprentice a year earlier.

1977 - Experiences relegation in his first full season in the Spurs side.

1978 - Helps Spurs to return to the top flight at the first time of asking.

1979 - Marks his England debut against Bulgaria at Wembley with a spectacular strike.

1981 - Earns first major honour as Spurs win the FA Cup with a 3-2 win over Manchester City in a replayed final.

1982 - Scores the winning goal from the penalty spot as Spurs retain the FA Cup beating Queen's Park Rangers, again after a replay with Hoddle also scoring in the first drawn game.

1987 - Bows out at White Hart Lane on a low note as Spurs lose to Coventry City in the FA Cup final.

1988 - Joins French side Monaco and is capped for the 53rd and final time by England as they lose to USSR in the European Championship finals in Frankfurt.

1989 - Sidelined for a year by serious knee injury.

1991 - Becomes player-manager of Swindon Town.

1993 - Hoddle scores in Swindon's 4-3 win in the division one play-off finals against Leicester City, but leaves the County Ground before they enter the Premier League to become manager of Chelsea in June.

1994 - Chelsea reach the FA Cup final but are well beaten 4-0 by Manchester United.

1996 - Named as manager of England after Terry Venables stands down having guided the side in the Euro 1996 finals.

1997 - England qualify for the World Cup finals in France after gaining a hard earned point from a 0-0 draw with Italy in Rome.

1998 - Hoddle comes under fire as England crash out of the World Cup finals. They qualify from their group but fall to Argentina in the first round of knockout matches after a penalty shoot-out. Then is under more pressure as England make a poor start to the qualification games for Euro 2000 finals with a 2-1 defeat by Sweden in Stockholm being followed by a 0-0 draw against Bulgaria at Wembley.

1999 - On February 1 Hoddle's comments on disability land him in hot water, a day later his contract as coach of the national side is terminated.

2000 - After being left out in the cold Hoddle returns to football management with struggling premiership side Southampton. John Gorman, his assistant when in the England post, is named as his No 2.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.