IN the final part of our discussion with Swindon Town legend Glenn Hoddle, we discuss his return to the County Ground with Chelsea and his present-day feelings for the club.

JUDAS! In weeks, Glenn Hoddle had gone from Swindon Town hero to fans’ villain.

It was shouted by supporters and printed in newspapers - Hoddle admitted himself after Chelsea’s 3-1 New Year’s Day success in 1994 at the County Ground that his return to SN1 was difficult.

After winning promotion to the Premier League in the most spectacular fashion, Hoddle made a £50,000 move to Stamford Bridge – a fee some £950,000 short of what Swindon had asked for.

The move angered supporters. Some presumed during Town’s open top bus parade with the Division One play-off trophy that Hoddle would remain in Wiltshire after he stated he was undecided whether to remain at Swindon for a fourth season.

We now know, of course, that those presumptions concluded in disappointment. He expected a hostile reception, and it’s fair to say that is exactly what he got.

Hoddle recalled: “I remember getting off the bus and getting some stick.

“My philosophy is that if you do a nice job for a club, everyone cheers you and pats you on the back.

“If you do a really good job but decide to move on, fans have a different attitude – that’s how I took it.

“The reaction was out of respect for what I did. Fans were upset because they wanted me to stay, but I’m sure anyone in football understands – and it’s been proven for many decades – you need a steppingstone to go forward and move up the ladder.

“That happens as a player and is happens as a manager. I loved every minute of my time at Swindon.

“The main thing for me as a professional is to win points, and we did that on the day.”

Months before that game on New Year’s Day, Hoddle asked his assistant during Town’s promotion winning season – John Gorman – to join him in west London.

At first, Gorman voiced his intent to also move to Chelsea. But at the eleventh hour, the Scotsman stayed loyal to Swindon.

And that decision was understandably to Hoddle’s disappointment.

He added: “That was the only time we weren’t in sync. There was a tinge of disappointment that John (Gorman) stayed at Swindon.

“I gave him the opportunity (at Chelsea), I asked him many times.

“I was delighted Swindon offered him the job. John told me he wanted to come with me, but at the last minute he decided to stay.”

What about the present day? Ahead of his visit to Swindon’s Wyvern Theatre on January 14, the 62-year-old expressed his delight with Town’s current form.

And he threw his support behind now manager Richie Wellens to go on and win promotion come the end of the season.

“They’re in decent form at the moment, and fingers crossed the club can win promotion and take things from there,” said Hoddle.

“I always have and always will have a lovely feeling for Swindon – I check their results every weekend and hope they do well.

“I had a fabulous time at the club.”