Hodgson Dumped

Liverpool have announced that Roy Hodgson has left the club by "mutual consent".

Hodgson has been under severe presssure after losing nine out of 20 Premier League matches and, following the latest defeat at Blackburn during the week, the club's principal owner said he had decided to act "in the best interests of the club":

"We are grateful for Roy's efforts over the past six months, but both parties thought it in the best interests of the club that he stand down from his position as team manager," he said. "We wish him all the best for the future."

In a statement Hodgson admitted that he had found the "last few months some of the most challenging of my career", adding

"Being asked to manage Liverpool Football Club was a great privilege. Any manager would be honoured to manage a club with such an incredible history, such embedded tradition and such an amazing set of fans. Liverpool is one of the great clubs in world football.

I am very sad not to have been able to put my stamp on the squad, to be given the time to bring new players into the club in this transfer window and to have been able to be part of the rebuilding process at Liverpool. The club has some great, world-class players, with whom it has been a pleasure to work and I wish the entire squad well for the rest of the season.

I thank those with whom I have built up a close working relationship at the club for their loyalty and support during very testing times, and finally of course to the Liverpool fans, your passion and dedication to the club will see Liverpool at the top of the game once more."

Dalglish, who managed Liverpool for nearly six years between May 1985 and February 1991 (famously winning the double in his first full season) will take control of the team for tomorrow's third round FA Cup match against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Hodgson is a nice enough chap but never really stoked the emotions needed to fire up the Reds and I'm sure he will return in due course.   Dalglish meanwhile has I believe made a serious error in coming back and will certainly not win tomorrow.

I wonder who the long term replacement will be?  Whoever they are, they will have a huge task as the current team is a shower of shite.