FORMER women's England cricket captain Rachel Heyhoe-Flint has provided some insight into why England coach Glenn Hoddle may have left Paul Gascoigne out of his World Cup squad, claiming he missed a bus for a game last week and wanted a beer when playing golf.
Heyhoe-Flint works at the complex in La Manga, Spain where the England squad prepared for last week's Hassan II tournament in Morocco and she offered evidence to back Hoddle's decision to omit Gascoigne from France 98 for football and fitness reasons .
Gascoigne came in for criticism for his time-keeping before the squad left for Spain he was photographed late last month in London's West End at 2am eating a kebab and he did not appear to have solved the problem in Spain.
Heyhoe-Flint, who is a sports consultant at the centre, claims Gascoigne missed the bus taking the England team from the hotel to the airport prior to the opening friendly against Morocco last Wednesday and explained: I was standing outside the hotel waving the bus off and lo-and-behold the bus disappeared out of sight and Gazza appeared out of the door and asked, Where's the bus gone?' Gascoigne did eventually get the bus and played the whole of the 1-0 win.
The now devastated star, who in the last year has also been photographed on all-day drinking binges with celebrity friends Danny Baker and Chris Evans, was overheard by Heyhoe-Flint asking for a beer during a game of golf. She added: The players were playing golf one afternoon after one of their games and Gazza was sitting by the hospitality halfway house and I heard him saying to some of the back up team, �Can I have a beer?'
Heyhoe-Flint criticised the former Rangers man, saying: I was involved in international sport for many years and when you think you are close to being selected then you really should do everything you can, to do the right things so you are seen to be part of the team. You've got to prove to the management that you can adhere to responsibility and do all that's required of you. If the management had some doubts before they went to La Manga then it was these few things that made me wonder if he was really going to make it.

ENGLAND DRIFT IN BETTING BOOKMAKERS William Hill have decided that the axeing of Paul Gascoigne has damaged England's World Cup hopes and they have lengthened their odds on winning the competition for the first time since 1966. After the Middlesbrough midfielder was left out by Glenn Hoddle on Sunday their odds instantly went from 7-1 to 8-1, making them joint fourth favourites. William Hill spokesman Graham Sharpe has also revealed how little Hoddle's decision was expected by punters, as not one bet had been placed on Gascoigne being omitted. He said: We offered 10-1 about Gazza being left out of the squad, but there were no takers. But William Hill still believe Gascoigne's international career is not over, and have put his chances of playing for England before 1 January 2000 at even money. Sharpe said: England go straight into qualifying for Euro 2000 after the World Cup and if Gascoigne has proved his fitness and commitment he will be hard to leave out.

EXPERT: 'TAKE CARE OF HIM' A TOP sports psychologist has insisted Paul Gascoigne could be destroyed by his omission from England's World Cup squad and has called on his close friends to rally round him immediately. Keith Lamport-Mitchell, who met Gascoigne a few years ago over a drink, naturally said: He is what he is. He is very much in your face. The public persona is similar to the private one. So I'm sure he will be absolutely devastated, drained by the news. It will be like a sudden bereavement to him. He will be asking himself, �Why me?' Or feeling enormous guilt and saying: �I've been an idiot to myself and to my team-mates.' It could destroy him and he will be wondering where he goes from here. He needs somebody he can trust. Someone who can help him and support him, get him through the turmoil that he will undoubtedly be going through. Adults regress under pressure, turning to something which will give them comfort like alcohol, cigarettes, food. They choose whatever they want and it can often lead to aggressive behaviour. I hope he avoids that.

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