A FORMER Hereford United footballer and member of England's triumphant 1966 squad has been devastated by Germany winning the right to host the 2006 World Cup after he helped spearhead a rival bid.

Terry Paine, player-coach in United's league hey-day, said he was "bitterly, bitterly disappointed" by the final vote of FIFA's executive committee in Zurich.

Paine's disappointment came not with the early exit of England, however. It was the controversial defeat of South Africa - where he now lives - by one vote in an acrimonious finish to a voting procedure tainted by allegations of threats and bribes that prompted his angst.

England went out with only two votes in the second round of voting when Germany and South Africa netted 11 apiece.

The third round went 12-11 Germany's way after the New Zealand representative had announced to the executive his decision to abstain before flying home.

If he had cast his vote in accordance with the wishes of the Oceania Football Confederation it would have been 12-12, forcing a casting vote from FIFA president Sepp Blatter. And Blatter had made no secret of his wish for South Africa to be chosen.

Paine, who made 19 appearances for England between 1963-66, has lived the last 16 years in South Africa and he was to the forefront of the campaign to bring the World Cup to the Rainbow Nation.

Whatever the reasons for the abstention, they did not satisfy South Africa. "We would rather have lost 13-11 than for this to happen," said the former Southampton, Hereford and England player who was awarded an MBE for his service to the game.

Although Paine still loves English soccer, he agreed to be an official ambassador for South Africa and said that he thought their need was the greatest and deserved support.

Before the voting he was reported as saying: "England keep on preaching they gave football to the world, but that argument is past its sell-by date. It's patronising."

Paine made 713 league appearances for Southampton before extending it at Hereford to 824, a record which stood for 14 years before being overtaken by Peter Shilton.

Paine, now in his early 60s, joined Hereford in 1974 and, as player-coach for manager John Sillett, was a major influence in the club's Third Division title success in the 1975-76 season.

He retired at the end of the following Second Division campaign.

In 1984 he moved to South Africa where he works for national television, presenting football programmes with former Manchester United goalkeeper Gary Bailey.