Telling an alcoholic to stop drinking is pointless

The last thing that Paul Gascoigne needs right now is people preaching to him about his problems. Understanding and help are what he needs most of all, but he still has the ability to do a great job for somebody in football.

I realised many years ago that preaching to George or trying to lecture him about his problems was pointless. You cannot tell an alcoholic to stop drinking because alcoholics will always be alcoholics and they will always fancy a drink. Paul has a problem and he has faced up to it in the past and I'm sure he will face up to it again. What people have to understand is that men like George and Paul don't just drink in order to let people down. Alcoholism is a medical problem and I don't think that the comments of Imraan Ladak, the Kettering chairman, regarding Paul's drinking were helpful. They only seem to have magnified Paul's problems.

I can understand why people are making comparisons between the problems that afflicted George and what is now happening to Paul. They were both great footballers with drink problems, but it is unfair to compare them. George was shy and reserved, but Paul is more outgoing, so their issues are different.

Paul has been sensible enough to seek help in the past, though, and that shows that he accepts he has a problem. I know Paul through George and he is a nice guy, but people don't really know him, just like people in general didn't really know George and why he had his problems.

I do think that being in football is something that will help Paul, though.

Maybe this job at Kettering was too much too soon for him because managing a football club brings a lot of pressure and that may have contributed to what has happened. However, it would be criminal if nobody out there was willing to give him another chance. He has so much to offer and being involved with a team, perhaps as a coach, will give Paul something to focus on and show him that people have trust in him.

Before, during and after George's illness, Paul spent a lot of time speaking to George's son, Calum, and I know he was terribly disappointed not to be able to be at George's funeral at Stormont on Saturday.

Paul is a good guy and I wish him all the best in his efforts to overcome his problems. I'm sure he will.

Telegraph ~ 07/12/2005