The England coach did hold out ameasureofhope for Gascoigne, as well as Matthew Le Tissier, by assuring them that the international door "is not shut" to them yet.
Nearly all expressed some anxiety that a cherished media form was in danger of extinction and ameasureof relief that perhaps there was still hope after all.
This is a temporary stopgap measure that lets us focus our resources wisely while giving a degree of relief and hope to talented, driven, patriotic young people.