Fans speak out over Gazza

The controversial decision has been greeted both with outrage and applause and has sent shudders through the heart of England's footballing community.

In a BBC News online survey, "Was Hoddle Right to drop Gazza?", just over half of the respondents criticised Hoddle's decision and the resulting anger was often fierce.

"Hoddle is a joke. He had better prove me wrong," read one response, whilst another said that, "Hoddle has made the biggest mistake of his life. This will finish him as England manager."

There is little doubt that for many fans Gazza epitomises what English football could - and should - be. Skillfull, imaginative and forever unpredictable, Gascoigne's past brilliance has made him nothing less than a national hero.

"A succession of England 'managers' have forgotten that they are in the business of entertainment," wrote one fan, "and nobody entertains like Gazza can."

"Gazza is a national institution," wrote another, "The country will not stand for it."

Support

But, Hoddle's action in expelling Gazza is not without support. For many respondents, Gazza's fitness was simply too big a gamble this time around.

"Gazza should have focussed 100% on football - he should not have been drinking and smoking," one fan wrote and many others noted that his form, so good during Euro 96, has recently slumped.

"Despite a glorious playing career, he simply isn't the same quality anymore," was a comment repeated throughout the reponse. Others, however, were far more vitriolic.

"Hoddle was right. Gazza believes his own hype," wrote one, whilst another said that, "Gazza ate all the pies ... and now he's suffering for it."

But, for the majority of respondents, Hoddle has made a grave mistake. So much so, said one fan, that: "now that Gascoigne has gone, just about the only Englishman with any experience of the World Cup finals is Des Lynam."