Football: Hoddle looks ready to take over at Reading

Mark Pierson
Thursday 16 September 1999 23:02 BST
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GLENN HODDLE is in the running to become Reading's manager after Tommy Burns was dismissed by the struggling Second Division club yesterday.

The former England manager, who was seen with Reading's chairman, John Madejski, earlier this week, could be confirmed as the club's manager this afternoon. Hoddle, who has lived in Berkshire for several years, has just moved into a new home close to Reading's training ground.

Burns, the former Celtic manager, and his assistant, Pat Bonner, had their contracts terminated with Reading because of the club's poor start to the season, with Alan Pardew, the reserve team manager until Reading scrapped their second team at the end of last season, appointed as caretaker manager. John Gorman, who was No 2 to Hoddle with England, was installed as Pardew's right-hand man after West Bromwich gave him permission to resign from a similar post at The Hawthorns.

Sir Alex Ferguson has dismissed speculation that Mark Bosnich could be on his way to Spanish football. "It's a load of nonsense. Mark is going nowhere," he said

Rumours that Bosnich would be joining Real Zaragoza arose because Bosnich has dropped down the pecking order at Old Trafford since the arrival of Massimo Taibi, who stands by to make his home debut against Wimbledon tomorrow Saturday, and Raimond van der Gouw played against Croatia Zagreb in the Champions' League.

Ruud Gullit has been fined pounds 5,000 for his comments to the referee Uriah Rennie during Newcastle's home defeat against Aston Villa on the first day of the season. The former Newcastle manager was furious with the Sheffield official for sending off Alan Shearer during the 1-0 defeat. Gullit had to be restrained by officials and the Aston Villa manager, John Gregory, as he tried to remonstrate with Rennie after the final whistle at St James' Park.

Afterwards he blamed Rennie for his side's defeat, the first of four in five League games that eventually cost him his job after the home defeat to Sunderland. Gregory has also been fined pounds 2,000 for comments made to Rennie after the Premiership game on 7 August.

West Bromwich are hoping to sign the 36-year-old Middlesbrough midfielder Andy Townsend in time for him to make his debut against Blackburn on Saturday.

Charlton's Inter link,

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