I BET Glenn Hoddle used to fight dirty in the school playground.

Nipping, hair-pulling, scratching - every trick in the book.

For Hoddle is resorting to those cowardly tactics in his new book, detailing his World Cup disaster.

'They started it' is the mature reasoning used to defend his decision to fan the flames of the Gascoigne and Sutton sagas.

Yes, Gascoigne sold his story to a national newspaper when axed by Hoddle before France 98.

And, using the tried and tested pre-pubescent philosophy of tit-for-tat, Hoddle could argue that he is entitled to swell his own bank account on the back of Gazza's misfortune.

The fact that Hoddle was the master of Gascoigne's destiny, and therefore prompted those hotel room scenes, has been conveniently ignored.

And Hoddle's decision to sell his soul creates a startling conflict of interest.

Will my book sell more copies if I can make Gazza flip?

Or was it just a master stroke of man management to break the news after Gascoigne had been drinking?

Hoddle's threadbare excuse does not, however, stretch to his Chris Sutton revelations.

Sutton did not sell his story to any newspaper - quite the contrary.

The Ewood striker, after publicly stating his reasons for pulling out of the B side, has attempted to avoid the issue. When reporters have forced his hand, Sutton has responded courteously and diplomatically.

So it must have been particularly galling that, on the eve of a new campaign - both domestically and internationally - Hoddle decides to open old wounds.

(I wonder if Hoddle also used to pull the wings off butterflies.)

Do not forget, though, that Hoddle has found Christianity since his youth - a peculiar branch of the faith that does not preach forgiveness.

I am usually all for open and frank public discussion on such matters - but there is a correct time and place.

Hoddle's book was sneaky, timed to cause maximum reaction in the build-up to the Premiership season.

(I wonder if Hoddle used to rat on his mates for playing kiss-catch.)

It remains to be seen how the England players will react during the European Championship qualifiers. Will David Beckham, for instance, still run to Hoddle when his ego needs a quick rub down?

The FA have, in the past, been ruthless in the misguided application of their "bringing the game into disrepute" justification for the punishment of free speech.

It will be interesting to see how the pompous David Davies and his cronies treat Hoddle.

Oh, silly me, I almost forget - Davies wrote the book.

Neil Bramwell is the Sports Editor

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.