“A challenge like this was hard to turn down” – Roy Hodgson’s first words as Bristol City boss

“I think it was the fact that it was a short-term project and appointment after the club made their decision to change, I think they were looking for someone who could step in and was prepared to do a job…and of course that appealed to me, I think I can manage and even look forward to these five weeks. ” The 78-year-old added that there is no potential of a longer-term deal being struck at the end of the season. The new boss also shot down online rumours of him being the club’s new sporting director which has been aluded to in recent club statements by saying “I’ve never been a sporting director, I don’t even know what’s required of one to be honest, but when Richard Scudamore contacted me it was to come in and work as I work for these five weeks and by the end of it I hope they’ve found their new sporting director, new manager and that the club will go from strength to strength.

” He followed this up by saying “The only way we’re going to get any enjoyment is if we get better at what we’re doing and win matches, so I think I’ve made that fairly clear as well. I’m here because I hope I’ll be able to do what Charlie [Boss] and the board have brought me in to do. ” Speaking on what he can bring in such a short period, Hodgson said “I’m hoping that with my experience and the way I work that some of that might be different to the club and to the players, and if it’s any good then hopefully some of that will be of value and advantage.

In terms of performances, you can, if you’re lucky, have some joy early on with the players…but we’ve got to be realistic, in five weeks the number of coaching and training sessions I’m going to have is going to be very limited. So we’ve got to hope that the players will very quickly cotton on to any thoughts that we have and that they will be able to push that forward. ” Hodgson also admitted “I wasn’t aware really of what was happening until such time as I met with Charlie…so as far as what’s gone on beforehand, I’m completely out of that.

I didn’t expect to receive a call from anybody, let alone Bristol City. ” This will be Roy Hodgson’s second spell as Bristol City gaffer, with the last coming 44-years ago in 1982 when the club was in financial turmoil. Hodgson reflected on that period, stating “of course, it was bad time, no sooner than we walked through the door were we told we were going into liquidation.