FA chief: I’m a fan of Hodgson
FOOTBALL Association chairman Greg Dyke insists he remains supportive of Roy Hodgson but yesterday declined to discuss whether the England manager would keep his job if he failed to reach next year’s World Cup.
Hodgson’s position would come under severe scrutiny were he to become the first England coach to fail to qualify for a World Cup since Graham Taylor, who was sacked for missing the 1994 tournament.
Only two wins from their remaining qualifying matches against Montenegro and Poland, tomorrow and on Tuesday, will guarantee England a place at the finals in Brazil, although other results could yet suffice.
Dyke, speaking at the Leaders In Football conference yesterday, was reluctant to discuss Hodgson’s future but said he liked the former Fulham and Liverpool boss.
“Look, we’ve got a manager, we’ve got two really important games, that’s where we are today,” he said. “What I don’t want to do is get into a discussion about backing or not backing 100 per cent at this particular moment because I think we’ve got two important games.
“I’ve got a lot of time for Roy Hodgson, so I’m a fan.”
Dyke was pressed on whether he stuck by comments made in August that suggested Hodgson would remain in charge regardless.
He added: “Yes I stand exactly by what I said before. I just don’t want to get into a debate this week about Roy Hodgson.”