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

Bristol City’s new interim head coach, Roy Hodgson, addressed the media for the first time this afternoon, following his appointment on Friday morning. The former England boss will replace Gerhard Struber, who was relieved of his duties following just nine months in charge at Ashton Gate.

Hodgson opened by admitting what drew him to coming out of retirement to take charge of The Robins’ final seven games of the season. “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. We had to bring money in by the sale of players, but we had no players to sell so it was very difficult.” He added that “Richard and Charlie have been very persuasive, and their ability to persuade me that this isn’t a knee-jerk reaction, we want you there to tap in a little bit more to what we think your football knowledge could bring, but I can’t say for certain that if another club had come with the same project or offer that I wouldn’t have considered it. Having said that though, I don’t really know why I did consider it, I’ve been quite happy in this retirement period, a little bit bored from time to time but a challenge like this was hard to turn down.” He went on to joke that “a chance like this might energise me and refuel my enthusiasm for the game, but at the same time, if we have too many days like today I might not last until the end of the week.”

Hodgson went on to say that he doesn’t think the feeling of starting at a new club ever changes, “when you retire, as I did twice in 2021 and 2024, at that time I was quote prepared to say that’s it now, I’d come to terms with that quite well. Then something like this happens and I realise there actually is quite a lot that I do miss. Having a chance to get a feel for that again, with a good group of players it seems, without having all the drawbacks of preparing for the long-term future and play a full 46 games, it fell into place very nicely for me. My wife deserves a lot of credit really for not being the one to tell me not to do it.”

The former Crystal Palace boss also spoke on “vintage” managers such as himself and what they could still offer in the Premier League. “I don’t think we can put ourselves in that category, we’ve had our time, it’s been very good, I think there are still managers who can still do a job as I hope to prove here…but I must say that an awful lot has change and is changing for the better, but you’re never going to get away from the fact that it’s about winning.”

Hodgson added that the facilities at Bristol City are “state of the art, there are very few Premiership teams that have quite that level, Ashton Gate has always been a top stadium and Bristol is a big city and Bristol City have always been well supported, despite the fact that since 1980 there’s not been top class football here, so it’s not surprise that the fans are angry and disappointed, it’s understandable but I believe that if Charlie and the board can get it right then this club can really go a long way.”

The 78-year-old took his first training session this morning and said “it was really good, I really enjoyed it, I’m sitting here now with a headache cos I’ve done more talking and shouting today than I have done over the last 18-months but it was good…I think we’re going to work well together.” He went on to add “I tried to make it clear to the players that this is about them, my job is a very simple one, it’s to set up the coaching sessions and work on some principles that might help them in their game and that they have some idea that when they step on the pitch they know what we’re looking for. If you’re asking for first impressions though, they’re very good…I expected what I got today and I’m very pleased with it.”

Hodgson then spoke on his coaching staff, which are the same coaching staff as Struber had previously, saying “I don’t need a crutch, it’s up to me really to if anything be the crutch for the players and the staff around the club.”

Today saw City players return to training after a six day break, with Hodgson saying “we’ve got a game on Friday and there’s always worry that when players come back if you go in too hard and work too intensively you’re going to get injured, so our hands were tied today slightly but it gave me a chance to see what they’re like and what we’re able to do. If it’s all about doing something which might introduce my ideas to them, that will start tomorrow.”

Hodgson added “I’m here to coach the team and get results, I’ll only be satisfied if the people watching the team can see that that’s going on. If there’s any other benefits the club can get from me being here and doing it then that’s great as well, I didn’t come here just to wander around and be some sort of father figure, I came because they wanted me to do some coaching.”

Attention then turned specifically to Bristol City’s next game, which will take place on Friday against Charlton Athletic, with Hodgson stating “I was looking forward to it until lunch today, when the coaches told me about Charlton’s style of play and that we only have one fit centre-back.”

Bristol City vs Charlton will be Hodgson’s first game in charge and will take place at The Valley at 3pm (UK time) on Friday April 3rd.