Roy Hodgson dismissed as Liverpool turn to Kenny

ROY Hodgson has left Liverpool by mutual consent with immediate effect.  A statement on the club website confirmed the Englishman’s dismissal today, after a string of poor results.  Former Reds manager Kenny Dalglish has been installed as manager until the end of the season, with the Scot racing back from a holiday abroad to take charge of the team’s FA Cup trip to Manchester United tomorrow afternoon.

Principal owner John Henry released the news this morning, with the following message; “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. We wish him all the best for the future."

GONE: Roy Hodgson got the chop this morning as Liverpool boss

Hodgson, 63, was installed as manager in the summer of Liverpool, after Rafa Benitez’s acrimonious departure.  He came with a big reputation, having guided Fulham to the UEFA Europa League final last season and also managing Switzerland to the last 16 in the 1994 World Cup finals.  Shortly after taking over, he convinced star players Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres to commit their long-term futures to the club.  Joe Cole arrived on a free transfer from champions Chelsea, but after that, it all started to go downhill for Roy.

The fans never seemed to question his appointment from the start and results simply didn’t come.  Liverpool were embarrassingly knocked out of the Carling Cup on September 22 by League Two strugglers Northampton Town at Anfield on penalties and less than two weeks later, Blackpool won 2-1 at Anfield, which left Liverpool in their lowest league position for over 40 years. 

The takeover of the club by John Henry and Thomas Werner provided Hodgson with some respite, and progress was made in the Europa League, with a super Gerrard performance seeing off Serie A high-flyers Napoli.  League form also improved briefly, with a Maxi Rodriguez late winner seeing the Reds secure their only away win of the season at Bolton Wanderers, then two terrific Torres goals bought Chelsea down to defeat at the beginning of November. 

Sadly, that was the high for Hodgson in his tumultuous reign at Anfield.  Awful away form, coupled with a horrific home defeat to bottom side Wolves and the dismal form of new signings Raul Meireles and Paul Konchesky.  Despite a bit of respite by a late win over Bolton Wanderers on New Year’s Day, another shambolic display on the road at Blackburn in midweek turned out to be the final straw for the board.  Seven wins in 22 FA Premier League matches with 12^th position in the league is simply unacceptable for a club of Liverpool’s stature, which left Roy in an untenable position. 

POPULAR: Kenny Dalglish is back, to the fans delight

He was LMA manager of the year last season, so it shows how fickle that football can be.  Overnight, he isn’t a bad manager and is certainly one of the nicest guys in the game.  However, Roy Hodgson proved out to be the wrong person at the wrong time and tested the patience of the fans to the limit.  He won’t be missed by many around Merseyside and the question is; can King Kenny turn around Liverpool’s ludicrous season. 

Victory at Old Trafford tomorrow in the FA Cup would be the best start. . .

New Hope Or Another Catastrophe: The Drama In The Anfield Boardroom

Last Sunday was the nadir for Liverpool FC.  Another demonstration by the Spirit of Shankly group at the club’s hated American owners was followed by another performance that lacked spirit and passion on the pitch.  The Reds dismal 2-1 defeat to Premiership new boys Blackpool at Anfield has left Roy Hodgson’s side in the bottom three, with a meagre total of six points from seven games.  Already twelve points behind leaders Chelsea, with less than a fifth of the season gone; there has even been talk of Liverpool being relegated, which is almost unthinkable.  Defeat in next Sunday’s Merseyside derby at Goodison will probably cost Hodgson his job.

However, it is the drama upstairs in the Anfield boardroom which is causing the biggest unrest of all.  The reluctance to sell from disgraced American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks has threatened to take Liverpool to the brink of annihilation.  Debts of over £200million, failed promises over a new stadium and a lack of transfer funds to strengthen the side have paralysed the club in the last eighteen months, with the latest humiliation, being dumped out on penalties by lowly Northampton Town in the Carling Cup.

Hicks and Gillett bought Liverpool for £218million in February 2007 from former chairman, David Moores.  They made grand promises to the fans, including the creation of a new 60,000 capacity stadium on Stanley Park, which simply never looked like materialising.  Liverpool’s current debt stands at £237.4million, the sort of figure that caused the downfall of Leeds United from Champions League semi-finalists to Premiership relegation in three short years (2001-2004).  Liverpool’s main creditor, RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) has given the club several extensions to pay off the debt, but has set a final deadline for next Friday; otherwise the club may end up with a nine point deduction from the Premier League for entering administration.  Several takeover bids have been rejected since Hicks and Gillett put the club up for sale in April this year, including strong investment bids from the Hong Kong government and the Middle East.  On Tuesday night, a deal was agreed by New Sport Ventures to buy the club for £300million, though that is well short of the overpriced £600million price that Hicks & Gillett have placed on the club.  Gillett and Hicks are thought to be considering legal options.

So, what do we know about New Sport Ventures, which is another American owned company.  Consequently, the fans reluctance can be seen well and truly.  It owns baseball team the Boston Red Sox and a high-profile NASCAR racing team.  The company was formed by John Henry in 2001 and today, is worth £943million pounds.  Henry is still on the NSV board, so he would become the new chairman.  Although he wouldn’t have the spending power to match the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City, his wealth would bring the chance to make Liverpool some form of a player in a transfer market and more importantly, it would clear the damaging debt. 

As a Liverpool fan, the whole saga has turned into a desperate mess and has left me worrying about the short-term future, never mind the long-term proposals.  This is set to run on and on, so despite the news of a new owner, the future remains well and truly a dark place on the red side of Merseyside.