"ABOUT Paul Gascoigne started the inquiry. "Oh no, interjected Terry Venables, "what's he done now?"

Gascoigne had, in fact, added his distinctive accent to the chorus of voices begging the England coach to reconsider his resignation. The request, made as England prepared for tomorrow's game against Croatia at Wembley, left Venables both exasperated and touched in public, and probably quietly pleased in private.

"I was gutted when I heard he was going to resign," had said Gascoigne, resorting, under encouragement, to tabloid speak. "It will be a tragedy for English football if he goes."

"The players have great respect for him. I've had a few managers, I've been abroad. He's different class. He has different ideas, he knows what he's talking about and knows how football should be played.

"When he is talking all the lads are concentrating and listening, even Bryan Robson, even Don Howe, with his experience. When the gaffer speaks at meetings and he says `anything to say Don?' Don says `you've said it all', which is a compliment from Don to the gaffer.

"He is bringing in 17 year olds to join in training we never had that chance. They are going to feel on top of the world when they go back to club level. He has brought in Bryan to give him experience, and Don. Even if he wasn't selecting me I would feel he was the best.

"We all hope it won't happen, that the FA will say `we want you, here's a five year contract'. He should be there for the next 10 ten years."

Venables constantly says he has had enough of the speculation, then appears to drop very gentle hints - like a knowing smile during a recent Sky interview - which suggest he could be persuaded to change his mind.

Yesterday, in response to Gascoigne's comments, he said: "It is very nice of him to say that. I did not know the players felt as strongly as that. But we've gone through all this before. It's out of my hands and I can't see any way round it."

This is not strictly true. The situation is as much Venables's creation as the FA's. He is, as Gascoigne reflected, his own man. The ostensible reason for his resignation, the series of autumn court cases, are still in the way. The other reason, the lack of backing from certain members of the FA, also remains but could, at least, be dealt with.

At present the situation is much as it was in January. Venables is still going but no successor has been appointed. That may change next week, when Venables is expected to meet Graham Kelly, the FA's chief executive, to discuss the succession, but nothing is likely to be settled until the end of the domestic season.

If the FA followed Gascoigne's advice and offered Venables a long contract he might well accept it.

On the playing front, Venables will select from a full squad for tomorrow's match. Robbie Fowler is expected to be given a full debut in attack.