Football FanCast columnist Davis Lowe is delighted to see someone take Paul Gascoigne under their wing.

It has taken some time in the coming but finally someone has had the good sense to take Paul Gascoigne under their wing in an attempt for him to turn his life around and get him fully focused once again.

Gascoigne’s problems are well documented, therefore I don’t have to go into, but give Gazza a football and suddenly his focus returns and all the demons that come with addiction are put to one side. It is a shame that the football world in the past few years have turned their back on him and done nothing to help out with Gascoigne’s woes, but I’m delighted to see that Beardsley has given him a chance to join in the coaching of the Academy and you do sense that it is exactly what he needed.

Gascoigne said: “What has happened in the past is in the past and I am not making any promises which I can’t keep, but I am so happy to be back in the game and training with the academy kids,

“I’m happy as a person right now. I’m feeling good about myself and having something to get up for every morning is a great feeling. Health-wise I’m in the best place I’ve been in for a long while.

“Peter Beardsley has been fantastic for me and makes sure I’m OK.

“He is also a brilliant coach and the kids think he is fantastic. I’d like to do my coaching badges and carry on coaching as long as I can. That’s got to be my aim, to stay happy and to help Peter as much as I can.

“I think the key to my happiness is keeping busy and hopefully I can take this chance to change my life.”  (Express)

I remember reading an article about Gascoigne and he was saying that the only time he felt relaxed was with a ball at his feet and during the 90mins nobody could ever get near or bother him. I am sure there were influential people within the game or those that were close that could see the inevitable happening yet it frustrates me that nobody looked out for him, or prevented him from falling like he has and we can only hope that Beardsley can finally be the man to help turn his life around. I am sure he still has plenty to give and if you were a Newcastle Academy player, you couldn’t think of a better player to give you tips and hints about the game on football.

Good on you Newcastle and Beardsley in particular, let’s hope he can turn his life around.