FORMER Burnley manager Chris Waddle is backing Terry Venables as the man to step into the breach as England boss.

Waddle was disappointed to see his former England and Tottenham team-mate Glenn Hoddle get the push and believes that Venables is the man to pour oil on troubled waters.

Hoddle was sacked by the FA last night following his remarks about disabled people.

In a statement after his sacking Hoddle said: "I accept that I made a serious error of judgement in an interview which caused misunderstanding and pain to a number of people.

"This was never my intention and for this I apologise."

Waddle, now coaching at Sheffield Wednesday, feels Venables would be the ideal man to take England on to the next World Cup, while grooming a younger man to succeed him.

"It's all happened so quickly I haven't had a lot of time to think about it and I don't want to say anything off the cuff.

"But I am sure they need to get somebody installed to see England through to the next World Cup.

"Probably in my eyes they need someone like Terry Venables and somebody younger alongside him to learn," Waddle said today.

Waddle feels the difference in domestic and international football means that the FA should look outside the current crop of successful Premiership managers to appoint somebody with international and continental experience - someone like Venables who left the England post after a semi-final exit from Euro 96. He added: "You need somebody who knows the game internationally. It's a lot different from club football. You learn to beat countries like Germany, France and Spain.

"Graham Taylor is a good club manager but he found it difficult. You've got to realise our football is totally different from world football and that's why I think Terry Venables did well and why Glenn did well. They played and managed abroad and they know the game."

And Waddle, who believes we have the players to succeed on the international stage, thinks a line of succession should be put in place to cope with the demands of the job with Venables grooming his replacement and the next man stepping up the ladder from the under-21s.

The 38-year-old ex-Clarets chief, who left Turf Moor last summer, felt the media should have backed off Hoddle.

However, Waddle admitted that his friend, who was axed as England coach last night, shouldn't have said what he did regarding his beliefs on reincarnation. Another loser in the England shake-up may be Glenn Roeder, Waddle's number two during his time in charge at Burnley, who could lose his place in the coaching team when the FA name a permanent successor to caretaker boss Howard Wilkinson who will lead England against World Champions France a week tonight.

Meanwhile, Ally Pickering came through 90 minutes on his return to action following an ankle injury as Burnley reserves beat Oldham 2-1 at Boundary Park last night.

Former Burnley manager Jimmy Mullen, who was sacked by Conference club Telford last month, has been interviewed for the vacant manager's post at Third Division strugglers Hartlepool.

However, he is thought to be an outside bet for the job.

Colne Clarets are staging a quiz between teams of past and present Burnley players at Colne Cricket Club on Wednesday, February 10, start 7.30pm.

Ticket details from Alan Beecroft on 01282 864147 or Tony Bannister on 01282 705520.

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