I will oust Ladak, says sacked Gascoigne

PAUL GASCOIGNE last night insisted the players and staff at Kettering Town were behind him as he vowed to attend tonight’s match at Alfreton and eventually regain control of the club.

An emotional Gascoigne admitted he had drunk before a recent match, but remained in control of himself and was not under the influence, as chairman Imraan Ladak had claimed.

"So what? I tell you the truth, I had a double brandy before the game," Gascoigne, 38, said.

"Before it used to be four bottles of whisky. It's not any more.

"I spoke to Paul Davis who has been at Arsenal for 20-odd years, I was fine; I spoke to Chris Waddle, who I was sat next to, and I was fine; I spoke to (managing director) Andy Billingham, and I was fine; I spoke to the players."

Ladak dismissed Gascoigne after claiming he was in no fit state to run the team.

But Gascoigne was dismissive of the chairman's ability to run a football club, repeatedly referring to Ladak as "a doctor" whose knowledge of the game was limited.

"As far as I'm concerned I'm not sacked because I never signed a contract," said Gascoigne.

"There is a battle there the chairman who is a doctor and I am Paul Gascoigne the footballer.

"He told me he's been watching football for 20 years five days a week and knows how football should be played.

"Well the guy can't trap a bag of cement as far as I'm concerned.

"I won't walk away. I'll do it my way and I'll keep doing it my way.

Gascoigne intends to be with the team in their Nationwide Conference North match at Alfreton tonight, although it seems certain he will not be in charge Kevin Wilson was named the club's new manager earlier yesterday.

However he intends to watch the action from behind the Kettering dugout and fire instructions to the players.

"I've had all the players onto me since 1am this morning and they're all behind me, the staff are behind me, and Kettering Town are behind me," said Gascoigne last night, before renewing his attack on the chairman.

"He's a control freak and that's it."

Gascoigne admitted he had experienced a difficult year on a personal basis.

"I'm going through a tough time. I'm having counselling. This last year's been tough," he said.

"I'm doing all I can to move the club forward and he's moving it backwards. Hopefully it'll be going forward but it won't be going forward until I go back.

"Chairman? He's not the chairman he's Imraan the doctor.

"The club is mine. I love the players and fans they are behind me.

"I'm a multi-millionaire and I'm angry. I've tried to buy him out today and he's said no amount of money will buy him out.

"It's the fans versus Paul Gascoigne or a doctor let's see who wins ... I hope he's a good doctor."

Kettering moved swiftly to appoint former Chelsea striker Wilson Gascoigne's predecessor as the team's new manager.

That move has not affected Gascoigne's determination to gain control of the club although he will listen to the supporters' points of view.

"If the fans want me out I'll leave and hold my hands up. I won't make excuses. I know I did the job properly," said Gascoigne.

"Eighteen players will be behind Paul Gascoigne and not Imraan.

"I wouldn't be buying a house in Kettering if I wasn't serious trying to get £100,000 into a bank today to buy shares in this club."