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John Walton/EMPICS Sport
Roy's Return

Back in the dugout: Hodgson confirmed as West Brom boss

Former Republic of Ireland assistant Chris Hughton overlooked as Hodgson appointed to Hawthorns hotseat.

PREMIERSHIP STRUGGLERS WEST BROM have this morning appointed LMA Manager of the Year Roy Hodgson as the club’s head coach.

Hodgson will replace Roberto Di Matteo who was dismissed last weekend after presiding over a dismal run of form which saw his side rack up just four victories in their last 18 league outings.

The Baggies currently lie in 17th position on 26 points, just two points clear of the bottom of the table.

Michael Appleton, who was appointed as Caretaker Head Coach last weekend after Di Matteo’s dismissal, will remain in charge of the side for the relegation six-pointer against West Ham United tomorrow.

This morning’s news of Hodgson’s appointment comes as some surprise as it was widely expected that ex-Newcastle boss Chris Hughton would be offered the job.

Hughton’s odds tumbled as low as 1/5 yesterday, with one major English bookmaker suspending the market after a flurry of bets were placed on the former Republic of Ireland assistant.

Earlier in the week, it had been rumoured that although Hodgson was the preferred choice of the Hawthorns’ chiefs, the 63-year-old was not yet ready for a return to the dugout.

Hodgson parted company with Liverpool in January after six disappointing months at the helm at Anfield.

Liverpool centre-half Daniel Agger this morning delivered a damning indictment of Hodgson’s tenure, bluntly stating “we played awful, we were shit”.