Roy Hodgson insists he will have final say
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson said in a press conference while talking to reporters that he welcomed the appointment of a new director of football strategy, Damien Comolli. Hodgson said that he still believed that he would have the final say in matters concerning
the playing staff.
Liverpool was in turmoil this season, following the departure of manager Rafa Benitez and the appointment of Hodgson over the summer. These changes were mostly because of the debt the club was in because of the American owners, Gillette and Hicks.
However, with the arrival of the new owners New England Sports Ventures (NESV), the club has taken a turn for the better. Despite having a poor start to the season, the Reds are now on their way up. Hodgson’s side secured two back to back wins in the English
Premier League and are now no longer in the relegation zone.
Hodgson is perfectly capable of signing and retaining capable players, the English manager single handedly brought Joe Cole from Chelsea on a free transfer over the summer. Not only that, he also managed to convince Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres to
stay at Anfield.
Comolli arrives at Anfield from Paris St Germain, before which he spent over three seasons at Tottenham. He did not get along very well with then manager Martin Jol, and that if the past is any indication of the future, he is expected to interfere with Hodgson’s
decisions.
Comolli was accused by many of interfering with Martin Jol’s decisions of signing new players. Jol even went as far as saying the Comolli did not make new signings for football reasons, even though it was because of him that Gareth Bale joined the Spurs.
However, Hodgson will not put up with interference in his managerial decisions. He said while talking to reporters, “The new owners don't want a model where one man has all the cards in his hand. They want that responsibility shared”.
He said he anticipated having the final say on all the key decisions and said that it was highly unusual that there would be any major disagreements. He said, “I think so, yes. Its mischief making to envisage scenarios where Damien says it has to be X and
I say it has to be Y”.
He added, “He will have some ideas, the chief scout will have some ideas and, between us, we will try and find the right man. I'm used to having to justify my decisions. I'm not used to saying 'Listen, I want your money and will spend it how I like'. That's
not the way I have worked”.
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