Fulham have set about the task of replacing Roy Hodgson in time for the big Premier League kick-off at Bolton (Fulham 9/5 to win) but have placed Ray Lewington in caretaker charge in the meantime.
As expected, Hodgson has left Craven Cottage for Liverpool officially on Thursday and Fulham now have the almost impossible task of trying to replace the man who turned them from Premier League strugglers to Europa League finalists.
Hodgson worked wonders during his time at the club with one of the smallest squads in the Premier League and they are huge shoes to fill.
The Liverpool fans may not be over-excited at the appointment, but the Fulham fans will be gutted to have lost their leader and will now be wondering who is capable of replacing him.
It is the million dollar question and in a way you have to feel sorry for Hodgson’s replacement in the same way you did when Sammy Lee took over from Sam Allardyce at Bolton and when Ian Dowie replaced Alan Curbishley at Charlton.
Can Fulham get any higher than last season? Probably not so the new manager can only go one way and that is probably another reason Hodgson left for the bright lights of Liverpool as he no doubt felt he had taken them as far as he could.
Lewington has been handed the job in the meantime but no doubt the Cottagers will be seaking a more high-profile appointment to build on the great work that Hodgson achieved.
A statement from Fulham read: “Fulham confirm that at 9.20am this morning, Roy Hodgson resigned from his position of first-team manager, effective immediately.
“The club would like to wish Roy the very best for the future and thanks him for all that was achieved during his tenure. Ray Lewington will take temporary charge of team matters until a successor is announced in due course.”
A shortlist will be drawn up in the coming days, expected to include the likes of Sven Goran Eriksson, Mark Hughes and possibly Curbishley, with Fulham fans praying a return to scrapping for survival is not looming again next season.
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