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Monday, March 09, 2020

From The Archives - Gascoigne Quits Kettering

Back in November 2005 former England international Paul Gascoigne was appointed manager of Kettering. However a month later he had left.
 
A look back at a statement by Imraan Ladak, the Kettering chairman, issued on December 5th 2005.

"Last night I spoke to Paul Gascoigne who told me "I will save you the pleasure of sacking me. I will walk away. I quit".

Last nights conversation was a result of thirty seven seperate incidents I have had to deal with since the appointment of Paul Gascoigne as Manager.

I find myself in a position where I feel it would be detrimental to the football club to list all these incidents, but following a statement which has been posted on Paul Gascoigne's official website, I also have a duty to myself, the football club and it's supporters to respond to Paul's comments.

Unfortuntately Paul Gascoigne has been under the influence of alcohol before, during and after several first team games and training sessions. This has been noticeable to the board of Directors, players, coaching staff and sections of the media. A referee and fourth official have also filed a report with the FA.

I have tried to help Paul through this difficult period but gave an undertaking to the board prior to my takeover that if Paul hit the bottle I would remove him as manager.

Paul has not reacted well to the news and has made numerous threats that if I do not sell him the club he will use his name and the media to turn the players and supporters against me. This has already begun with Paul calling a number of the first team last night, under the influence of alcohol. Paul even told players not to report for training at MK Dons where they were due to commence full-time training.

I have not interfered with team selection or player purchases and departures but have been disappointed with the way two players in particular have been treated by Paul.

I also made clear that I felt Paul had turned a winning team into a confused and unsettled one by playing players out of position and being drunk on the team bus and in the dressing room for his team talks.

Paul has made a number of allegations which are unfounded and libellous but all I want is for Paul to seek professional medical assistance for his addictions and to stop taking his frustration out by trying to unsettle this club further.

I would also like to make clear that I told Paul I would not bring any of this into the public domain unless I was forced to do so.

Paul is not a shareholder or Director of Kettering Town Football Club and I have the unanimous support of the Board of Directors in the action that I have taken.

I would like to pay tribute to the players of Kettering Town who have continued to show the utmost professionalism during the last six weeks and hope they can continue to maintain this over what is clearly going to be a difficult period for this club.

I can also confirm that I have turned down Paul's offer to purchase the club.

Once the media hype dies down we will be left with the same supporters and manager which were here before myself and Paul arrived, with a similar playing squad and exactly the same ambitions as stated two months ago.

Paul was my childhood idol and when sober is a wonderful person. Last night was genuinely the most difficult decision I have had to make, but my head won the battle with my heart. I am shocked and bitterly disappointed by Paul's reaction.

However my responsibility is foremost to Kettering Town Football Club and not Paul Gascoigne.

Update: Gascoigne was arrested late last night outside the Hope Street Hotel in Liverpool after a member of the press said he had been attacked.