Hoddle on the brink

Glenn Hoddle has been interviewed twice for the Reading job and is on the brink of a dramatic return to management only 10 days after being sacked by Tottenham.

It is understood that Reading chairman John Madejski was impressed by Hoddle during both interviews, the second took place yesterday, although he has also seen other candidates.

The multi-millionaire chairman, one of Britain's richest men, is now canvassing opinion from within football on the appointment. Standard Sport revealed last week that the former Chelsea, Southampton and England boss was on the Royals shortlist after Alan Pardew left for West Ham. We then reported he was the first choice and that Reading had approached him.

Reading's director of football Nicky Hammond, who was Hoddle's goalkeeper at Swindon, has already said the club intend to announce their new boss this week.

Meanwhile, one top manager has finally admitted applying for the vacant Spurs job - former Croatia boss Miroslav Blazevic.

Speculation over the new manager at White Hart Lane continues, with both Martin O'Neill and Graeme Souness said to be cooling over their interest, making Alan Curbishley the favourite. None, though, has formally ruled himself out of the running.