How Roy Hodgson really feels about leaving Bristol City after May 2nd | OneFootball

The 78-year-old will call time on his return to management this Saturday when Bristol City face Stoke City

Roy Hodgson will wrap up his short stint at Bristol City this weekend when the Robins close out their season at home against Stoke City.

The 78-year-old made a shocking return to the dugout last month at Ashton Gate, over two years after his last job at Crystal Palace, and nearly 44 years after his first run with the Robins ended in April 1982.

Hodgson's arrival followed the sacking of Gerhard Struber, and it was made clear that the veteran manager would only be a stopgap hire until the end of the season, while the club searched for a permanent replacement in the summer.

Bristol City had seven games remaining when Struber was relieved of his duties, and in six games under Hodgson, the Robins have won two, drawn two and lost two, leading up to this final game against Stoke

The West Country outfit are continually mulling over long-term options to replace the ex-England boss and, in recent days, Steven Gerrard has emerged as a potential contender to land the top job at Ashton Gate as he plots his own return to domestic management.

How Roy Hodgson feels about leaving Bristol City this weekend

When you make a return to a role you held at various clubs for over 40 years after being happily retired, it's easy to get that bug back, and Hodgson stated that he has enjoyed being back in football management after two years away.

"It's a very difficult question for me to answer, really," the 78-year-old told Bristol Live when asked how he felt heading into his final game. "I don't know what I should say.

"I have enjoyed this challenge that was presented to me, and I'm really glad that I took it on because working with this team has rejuvenated me a little bit and given me a lot of enjoyment.

"I'm pretty sure that I will miss it, but on the other hand, I've been conditioned from the start that this is what it's going to be. This is my role, this is what I've got to try and do. When I leave the club, this is what I'm going to try and leave them with, as it were, so I don't think it will be difficult for me in that respect."

Hodgson admitted that, as he gets older, it's been a little bit easier to step away from football, but does believe that he will miss it.

"Every time I've taken myself away from football with the various resignations I've had over the years, I've missed the day-to-day football, as I've really enjoyed it now," he continued. "I'd be foolish to say I won't miss it this time; perhaps I shall.

"But the years creep on, and it would have been very hard for me to do it when I was younger, but now at the age I am, I think it will be easier."

Bristol City are ready to look forward after Roy Hodgson's departure

Indeed, Hodgson recognises that the Robins brought him in to oversee games towards the end of the season, and isn't begging Steve Lansdown and the other higher-ups at Ashton Gate to give him the job permanently.

While he did state that he could never say never when asked if this would be his last involvement in football ahead of the trip to Birmingham City last weekend, he is expecting these last couple of weeks to be his last in this short tenure at Bristol City.

"My remit and my contract take me through to next Saturday and a week beyond because the people at the club would like to speak with me with regard to my thoughts and maybe something they want to discuss," he added.

"But if you're saying is there a chance that all of a sudden I'm going to beg Bristol City to give me the job, that's not going to happen."

Even if Bristol City won all seven of their games under Hodgson, the likelihood would be that the club would look elsewhere than for the 78-year-old for the full-time gig. As it happens, eight points in six games isn't the greatest return anyway.

That being said, there's no doubt that the Robins' hierarchy will likely lean on the veteran manager for his advice on who he feels should succeed him and who he believes the club should strengthen player-wise in the summer, too.

But, after his contract expires in the second week of May, Hodgson will part ways once more, and only time will tell whether that will be his last involvement in the dugout in his storied career.