Liverpool F.C. boss Roy Hodgson has called on the club’s new American owner to back his efforts to lift the Reds out of the English Premier League relegation zone, Sky Sports reported Saturday.
The Anfield outfit’s protracted takeover saga was finally resolved Friday when New England Sports Ventures (NESV), parent company of the Boston Red Sox, saw its $480 million (£300million) offer go through.
NESV, which is fronted by John W. Henry, defeated American duo Tom Hicks and George Gillett after courtroom battles on either side of the Atlantic, although the pair is refusing to go quietly.
Attention will now turn again to events on the field, where the Reds have endured a miserable start to the season, suffering humiliating home defeats at the hands of Northampton in the Carling Cup and Blackpool in the league.
Fans have turned their anger towards Hodgson, with chants of ‘Dalglish, Dalglish’ demonstrating that some supporters were keen for Kenny Dalglish, a club official and legendary former player, to take the helm.
But former Fulham boss Hodgson, who only replaced Rafa Benitez in the summer, has called for everyone to pull together in a bid to lift Liverpool. The team, based in northwestern England, is third from bottom in the current EPL standings.
The first challenge for the now NESV-owned Reds is Sunday’s Merseyside derby against Everton at Goodison Park, with Hodgson warning against knee-jerk reactions should results not immediately improve.
“I know I can turn it around but I need the patience and support to do it,” Hodgson said. “All clubs need stability — managers and players as well — but that is becoming a very hard thing to find. I’ve always expected new owners and put my faith in the board to choose the right ones.
“From what I know of NESV and the Red Sox, they know their stuff and will be good for the club. This is a fresh start for the club and, hopefully, that means for me too. I was proud to come here and now I am even prouder. I signed for three years and it’s a sad day for everyone if, after a bad start, people think the best solution is to wave a magic wand and look for someone else.”
He added: “John called me this week and said he was very much looking forward to working with me and the other people here — but there was no talk of my situation.”
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