Gazza ready to fight for Kettering control

Paul Gascoigne’s involvement at Kettering is shrouded in confusion after chairman Imraan Ladak claimed the former England man had left the club, with Gascoigne insisting he was prepared to buy out Ladak in order to stay on.

The 38-year-old former Tottenham, Lazio and Rangers player became manager of the Rockingham Road club at the end of October but a statement by Ladak on the club’s official website appeared to end his tenure at the club after just 39 days as manager.

However, a defiant Gascoigne said in a statement on his official personal website www.paulgascoigne.biz: “The chairman wants to sack me but I said I will never walk away from Kettering Town and I will fight all the way.

“I am now looking to buy the football club, I said I would never walk away and I said I would achieve the goal of achieving league status in the next three to five years.

“I have spoken to top professionals in the game and they have said I should have walked away weeks ago. I didn’t and got my head down by working hard and I will continue to stick in there until I achieve my goal.”

Gascoigne’s statement is hugely critical of Ladak, accusing him of reneging on a promise to invest in the team following the takeover and of interfering on the playing side.

“Imraan spoke about substantial funds being made available to take this club forward and I’m yet to see them materialise,” he added.

“On the way to watch the reserves, Imraan rang up the reserve-team manager and said to drop the two forwards that the manager had included and told him to play his own choice of forwards.

“The reserves were set up for us to take a look at new players and he totally undermines the football management decisions.

“I’ve asked him not to be in my office and asked him if he could use somewhere else to conduct his business.

“I also asked him to smarten up for match days and to act as a club ambassador.

“He does not speak to sponsors or away team directors. This was left up to myself to meet and greet sponsors. He has my whole staff a nervous wreck and I can’t continue in this way.

“If I do leave, then God bless Kettering Town Football Club and the next manager.

“I believe in the town and the potential the club has and I believe we have made huge strides forward in the past five to six weeks. But unfortunately the situation has become untenable and we will look to find a solution to the issues.”

Ladak, who is confident of convincing Kevin Wilson to return as Poppies boss, is adamant Gascoigne has left the club and told PA Sport: “Paul made me an offer this morning to buy the club but I’ll tell you this now, I would not sell Kettering Town FC for £100million of Roman Abramovich’s money.”

Ladak, who insisted Gascoigne was “difficult to work with”, revealed Gascoigne’s assistant Paul Davis is also leaving the club.

“I have been extremely disappointed with the way things have worked out with Paul (Gascoigne), but I don’t want to elaborate too much.

“He has left as manager because things have simply not worked out. Paul is a great character but certain things have made it very difficult to forge a successful working relationship with him.”