THERE'S a well-oiled phrase in football suggesting contracts are not worth the paper they are written on.

And in the case of Wolves boss Glenn Hoddle, it is particularly apt.

Not because of the ambition that saw him uproot from Swindon to Chelsea, from Chelsea to England or from Southampton to Tottenham.

And not because of the theory - now surely put to bed - that he is simply biding his time at Molineux in the hope of gleaning a more coveted job elsewhere.

No, the one-year rolling contract signed by Hoddle this week is not worth the paper it's written on because when it comes his work, be the deal for six months or six years, you will always get exactly what it says on the tin.

Long hours, fearsomely meticulate preparation, painstaking tactical work on the training ground and an unswerving determination to improve the players under his tutelage.

Wolves' chief executive Jez Moxey has found himself feeling a pang of guilt on several occasions as he departs Molineux in the 7pm shadows only to be informed the manager and coaching staff are still entrenched in their offices.

"We're just practising golf swings," Hoddle's jovial response to such remarks, is akin to the school swot playing down the hours of revision that secure top marks in an exam.

When it comes to his football, Hoddle leaves no stone unturned, which is why his further commitment to Wolves will not be accompanied by any dramatic change in his mindset.

"Do I feel more like the Wolves manager now? No, not really," he says, in the wake of extending his initial six-month stay.

"I was totally committed the day I walked in here and the feeling now is no different.

"I can understand there might have been suspicion from the fans when I only signed here for six months.

"And perhaps any suspicion that is left will disappear with this new contract.

"But I can tell you that the people that work with me or get to know me will realise I never work any differently to how I have done over these last six months.

"From the first day I come to a football club, whether it's for six months or longer I am a professional who takes pride in his work.

"That is something I have always done, and there isn't going to be any change now - it isn't the case that I can now do even more work because I'm here for longer."

It is Hoddle's attention to detail which necessitated four weeks of protracted - albeit amicable --negotiations after which both parties discovered a pleasing common ground.

The "nitty-gritty" of aforesaid discussions, to coin a Hoddle phrase?

In summary, a bit of money to spend on players (but not too much!), keeping on existing backroom staff with one or two additions in the scouting and medical disciplines, a clean slate for all players including a certain Mr Camara and improvements to the pitch and a complete re-lay if ultimately necessary.

With those and other conditions met, Hoddle is relishing the prospect of getting his teeth into life at what he describes as not only a big club but one which also possesses a vitally harmonious family atmosphere.

It's also a club where tradition dictates a pre-season status as one of the promotion favourites, but far from viewing such feelings as a millstone, the former England manager believes it's a position to be embraced.

"I relish the fact that Jez told me the only place this club wants to be is the Premiership, because that's the only place I want to be," said Hoddle.

"That might be putting the pressure on but that's the sort of pressure I thrive on.

"We've got to embrace that challenge and the players and everyone at the club have to understand that.

"Those demands are always going to be at this club, they have been for years.

"But if the expectation outside is that we are one of the favourites then great, let's use it and turn it into a positive."

If Hoddle can successfully turn those words into actions, and continue to build from the base of one defeat in 24 games, than 12 months from now he might just find himself able to write pretty much any contract he wants....