In March 2001 you were kind enough to publish my letter saying how absurd it was to be calling for Graham Taylor’s sacking after a few disappointing performances. Perhaps that gives me a little entitlement to talk of the selfless manner in which Mr Taylor left jobs.

He did indeed step down a few weeks later, stating that he had lost his power to motivate players. Perhaps he made the right call resigning, despite the club’s disastrous appointment of Gianluca Vialli as his immediate successor – what a contrast the ending of his employment was. Taylor’s was certainly a resignation borne of a desire to do the right thing for the club.

He had publicly, and correctly, stated that his relationship with Watford was such that the club would never sack him, leaving him in the privileged position for a manager, of having the power to make the decision: a power he did not abuse.

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It was around then that the money paid to managers, like players, was escalating exponentially, but that was not a reason to him to remain where he felt he did not have enough to offer.

His latter resignation at Aston Villa was also principled, and he lost a great deal of compensation by refusing to sign a confidentiality clause. Despite his resentment of his treatment he never actually made serious public criticisms of that club and its board. Nor did he insist on or, so far as is known, get an Allardyce-style pay out, on his dignified, if inevitable resignation from the England job. There are many more instances of Mr Taylor’s decency but I hope these can be remembered too.

Richard Colbey, Wood Vale, Muswell Hill