With Edwards announced as the new Watford head coach before kick-off, Hodgson was obviously asked about this in his press conference. The 74-year-old seemed to have followed his successor’s career closely too. Indeed, Hodgson said it was a sensible move to hire the ‘very talented young coach’
Roy Hodgson said: “I know exactly what he’s done at Forest Green, and I know the success he’s had there. And I think that maybe that will be a good move for the club. I haven’t had any input into the direction that club should take. But if you asked me, does it seem to me like a good direction? I would definitely say: yes, it does. And all I can do is wish him well. And I hope if he’s seen the game tonight, he would have seen enough in that group tonight. And knowing perhaps a little bit about the players who aren’t anywhere near the team tonight, to believe that I can get this team back into the Premiership.”
Of course, Edwards walks into a club which is known for its impulsive attitude to hiring and firing managers, but the current boss maintained that the set-up at Watford is ideal for any coach to thrive.
Roy Hodgson said: “I think the structure of the club, everything that he will find here, will be everything a coach could wish to find – in terms of the facilities, in terms of the way the club is set up to provide help to the coach in terms of the sports science and nutrition, all of those modern things which are so important. Our club is as good as any out there in that respect.”
