In 1997 with Glenn Hoddle now manager of England, Dicks met, by chance, his assistant, John Gorman whilst on holiday. Dicks claims Gorman had told him he would stand a better chance of being picked if he had grown his hair. Dicks frequently shaved his head sporting a skinhead hairstyle. Gorman also said that Dicks had been a candidate for selection for a game against Mexico in 1997. By this time Dicks had said he no longer wished to be considered for international selection.