GLENN Hoddle yesterday ruled out a return to Swindon Town as director of football before warning the club’s board that the appointment of a rookie manager could be a gamble.

The 53-year-old is a County Ground legend after leading the club to the Premier League back in 1993 and had been strongly linked with a return as manager shortly after Paul Hart left the club at the end of last month.

Hoddle was not among the eight candidates interviewed for the position, although Graham Rix – a coach at the Glenn Hoddle Academy – was, prompting speculation Hoddle could still be involved as director of football.

However, when asked by the Advertiser if a return to the club in a role such as director of football was a possibility, the former England boss said: “No, because then that would be having two feet into one club.

“Consultancy and overseeing the club on different matters and linking with the Academy is another thing and it is something that could be done.

“I will remain as the chairman of the Glenn Hoddle Academy, it is my business and the whole thing was my idea and it is something I am passionate about.”

Hoddle, who was speaking at a Football40 launch event at Planet Hollywood, still has fond memories of his time in Wiltshire and while he is saddened by the club’s current predicament, he is confident they will be back where they deserve to be within time.

“It is very sad," he added. "I have great feelings for the club, it was where I cut my managerial teeth and we were very successful and got into the Premier League, so it was fabulous.

“It is sad to see what has happened but they are a good club and it is a club that can bounce back, I am 100 per cent sure of that.

“They have a good fanbase and I am sure, whatever decisions are made down there, they can get themselves back up over a period of time.”

Town are close to finalising a deal to appoint former West Ham star and managerial rookie Paolo Di Canio as manager in the hope he can, in effect, replicate Hoddle’s achievements, albeit at a lower level.

But Hoddle believes the Town board should carefully consider choosing such a path, cautiously responding with, “if you choose the right person”, when asked if it would be the right option to give a former player his first managerial chance.