The turbulent and brief managerial career of an English footballing icon has been chronicled in a new book by a former local press sports editor.

Paul Gascoigne spent just 39 days in charge of non-league team Kettering Town during the first half of the 2005-06 season.

Steve Pitts, at the time group sports editor for Johnston Press’ Northamptonshire Newspapers division, was ideally placed to record the events of Gascoigne’s six weeks in charge.

He told the Northampton Chronicle and Echo: “The story I wanted to tell was about all the people who had been affected by Gazza’s time in charge.

“There were so many players that had their lives changed quite dramatically by it all.

“It is like a whirlwind effect when you get a former superstar dropped into an environment like that.”

Steve has been a journalist for 30 years and started his career with his Middlesex Chronicle.

He has also worked for a number of publications in Fleet Street and the local press and now lives in Northampton.