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Watford set to appoint Roy Hodgson as new manager

By Ian DennisBBC Radio 5 Live senior football reporter

Last updated on .From the section Watfordcomments1460

Watford are set to appoint former England boss Roy Hodgson as their new manager.

The Hornets are keen to make a swift appointment following Claudio Ranieri's dismissal on Monday with the club in the Premier League's bottom three.

Hodgson, 74, has been out of the game since leaving Crystal Palace at the end of last season.

At the time, he said he wanted to take a break from the game but did not rule out a return at some point.

Watford want to give Ranieri's replacement as much time as possible to work with the team before a crucial Premier League trip to fellow strugglers Burnley on 5 February.

The Pozzo family own the Vicarage Road side and Hodgson worked for them when he had a brief spell in charge of Udinese.

Hodgson is the oldest man to manage in the Premier League and had been in charge at Palace from September 2017 until his departure.

He replaced Frank de Boer as manager with the Eagles bottom of the Premier League after they had lost their first four matches of the 2017-18 season without scoring a goal.

Despite losing his first three games in charge, he guided Palace to 11th in the table, while they finished 12th, 14th and 14th in subsequent seasons.

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1460 comments

  • Comment posted by Rights come with responsibilities, at 08:14 25 Jan

    Great boost to Roy's retirement fund for a couple of months work.

    • Reply posted by cb, at 08:26 25 Jan

      cb replied:
      Ahh good luck to him if he fancies it, a few million quid for 6 months work... They'll be well drilled at least.

  • Comment posted by Waseem Sarwar, at 08:20 25 Jan

    While Watford are negotiating with Roy for their next manager, they have also started the search for Roy’s replacement potentially taking over at end of March or early April.

    • Reply posted by pjdykes, at 08:50 25 Jan

      pjdykes replied:
      Are you thinking about Big Sam? I haven't heard his name mentioned for a while....

  • Comment posted by Fella, at 08:16 25 Jan

    Seriously, Roy? Stay retired, enjoy a stress free life. Sure you'll get a few bob but you aint short in your retirement pot I am sure. Just not worth it

    • Reply posted by Member of the public, at 08:29 25 Jan

      Member of the public replied:
      Perhaps he enjoys it more than retirement?

  • Comment posted by Censored by the BBC, at 09:10 25 Jan

    In 5 years time you'll never be a more than a metre away from a former Watford manager.

    • Reply posted by saul shaoul, at 09:11 25 Jan

      saul shaoul replied:
      brilliant that really made me laugh!

  • Comment posted by carrera4life, at 08:27 25 Jan

    Seven games, multi million pay off, who wouldn’t take the job?

    • Reply posted by Devils Advocate, at 08:56 25 Jan

      Devils Advocate replied:
      No brainer for Roy really, but very uninspiring for Watford fans.

  • Comment posted by kinsang, at 08:32 25 Jan

    Quite a few patronising comments on here. Ultimately it's up to Roy what he wants to do - he still wants to be involved, Watford seem keen to give him a chance, end of story. As for the 'why would you take the job', you ask a lot of managers and they aren't in a position to simply cherry pick jobs. A 'poisoned chalice' to one is a great opportunity for another. It's all part of football.

    • Reply posted by David, at 08:47 25 Jan

      David replied:
      So, what's wrong with going for a young up and coming manager, instead of the same old same old? Might as well have gone for Allerdyce!

  • Comment posted by watford4ever, at 08:44 25 Jan

    A lot of negative comments about the stewardship of our club. Facts are that the Pozzo’s bought the club when it was nearly bankrupt and struggling in lower divisions.
    They have invested millions in the ground, pitch and training facilities and we have punched above our weight on the pitch. Remember, no coach leaves a poor man from Watford, contracts are honoured and we move on.
    Welcome Roy

    • Reply posted by PushPineapple, at 08:47 25 Jan

      PushPineapple replied:
      Wow. Talk about blinkered view.

  • Comment posted by Richardinho, at 08:56 25 Jan

    Roy has had success at nearly every club he's managed Liverpool excepted. Jesting talk of him earning a decent pay packet over a few short months doesn't fit the kind of person he is. Watford, even despite the revolving door management reputation, couldn't ask for a better, or more stable manager than Roy Hodgson. I'm not a Watford supporter, but if I was, Roy Hodgson would be a very welcome sight

    • Reply posted by Sam Brook, at 09:03 25 Jan

      Sam Brook replied:
      Nicely said

  • Comment posted by okokok, at 08:31 25 Jan

    Any person who managers there must know what he is walking into. So when he gets sacked, please let's not have this outpouring of sympathy for them. They will be getting well rewarded for their efforts.

    • Reply posted by Whitehart, at 09:19 25 Jan

      Whitehart replied:
      Yet fans have no problem with prima donna's getting well rewarded for putting in little to no effort

  • Comment posted by marklaurens, at 08:29 25 Jan

    Roy is a lovely man, but his teams play depressing football.

    • Reply posted by Open your eyes, at 09:02 25 Jan

      Open your eyes replied:
      Depressing football and the chance of survival. Or, depressing football with no chance of survival. Clownio was a dreadful choice

  • Comment posted by shadow warrior, at 08:23 25 Jan

    Well most of us wrote him off before he joined palace

    Twas a few years ago and is he up for it now

    If anything it will be good to see him back in the game and he has the knowledge and football acumen to save Watford

    I know Watford have had a few managers but for the size of their club and fan base they have done quite well so far

    Haters gonna hate

    • Reply posted by big G, at 08:57 25 Jan

      big G replied:
      And they were right to right him off. What did he do with that Palace team again???

  • Comment posted by week 2 name, at 08:53 25 Jan

    If it works for Roy and they stay up it enhances his reputation.

    If they fail and go down it enhances his pension pot.

    Either way Roy can't lose.

    (And he gets to have a bit of fun doing what he loves until the end of this season.)

    • Reply posted by nosher, at 09:47 25 Jan

      nosher replied:
      Then off to United

  • Comment posted by Mark, at 08:58 25 Jan

    If Roy has still got the fire inside him to motivate players to fight for the clubs survival in the Premier league. Then why not do the job. Good luck to the man.

  • Comment posted by Matt L, at 08:37 25 Jan

    Don’t do it Roy, enjoy your retirement!

  • Comment posted by Matt_Palace, at 08:13 25 Jan

    Don’t do it Roy, you are worth so much more than going to a club which will sack you within a few months and end your legacy is such a bad way!

    • Reply posted by shadow warrior, at 08:24 25 Jan

      shadow warrior replied:
      It won’t end his legacy

      It’s a win win for him cause nobody will expect him to miracles

  • Comment posted by Piffle , at 16:22 25 Jan

    Let's lay off the speech impediment.
    Roy deserves a bit more respect.
    He's achieved more in football than everyone on this page combined.

    • Reply posted by Teleport, at 16:33 25 Jan

      Teleport replied:
      Lol speak for yourself.

  • Comment posted by RSO, at 08:13 25 Jan

    Unbelievable. The merry go round just keeps on going

    • Reply posted by The Spin Doctor, at 15:00 25 Jan

      The Spin Doctor replied:
      Ok Roy's the boy for the next dozen or so games, who will it be after that? Any ideas folks?

  • Comment posted by slapheadblue, at 08:15 25 Jan

    Watford will soon need stair lifts installed if they carry on like this

    • Reply posted by Berko Dan , at 10:30 25 Jan

      Berko Dan replied:
      We are searching care homes for our next manager...

  • Comment posted by Marmaduke, at 08:43 25 Jan

    You seem a decent man Roy, do yourself a favour and get yourself an allotment if you're bored.

    • Reply posted by big G, at 09:02 25 Jan

      big G replied:
      Always think it says alot about a person and their life when they can't just retire and enjoy themselves 🤷‍♂️ Roy may come across like a really nice guy but I wonder if he hasn't just got a massive ego

  • Comment posted by B-Elk, at 08:31 25 Jan

    Eight managers gone already after half a season and two of them at the same club. There's a choice on the menu: Big Sam, Rafa, Tony Pulis, Steve Bruce, Mark Hughes, Lamps. Or Nigel Pearson to frighten them into doing something on the pitch.

    • Reply posted by Chubbs83, at 09:17 25 Jan

      Chubbs83 replied:
      I don’t understand the point you are trying to make?

      Bemoaning 8 sackings then recommending 7 God awful managers.

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