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New Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson admits he has to
sell himself and his ideals to the club's star players but hopes
they will not be tempted to "jump ship".
The 62-year-old has taken over at Anfield with much uncertainty
still surrounding the futures of captain Steven Gerrard, striker
Fernando Torres and midfielder Javier Mascherano.
That trio are undoubtedly the club's most marketable assets and
have all been linked with summer moves following the departure of
Rafael Benitez last month after a disappointing campaign saw the
Reds finish seventh - their worst position for 11 years.
Hodgson knows he is not the glamour name some were maybe
expecting but hopes the players will stick around long enough to
judge his credentials for themselves.
The former Fulham boss was due to speak to Gerrard and Jamie
Carragher after his press conference at Anfield on Thursday, when
he would outline his vision.
He also plans to have conversations with other key members of
the playing staff.
"It will be actions more than words," said Hodgson.
"It's out of my hands to an extent, but I do know the club is
anxious to keep the players, I'm anxious to keep the players.
"We'll do all in our power to keep them. The fans are intelligent
and know the situation.
"They can't expect me to give guarantees they'll stay on."
Welcome: Martin Broughton (left) with new Liverpool
manager Roy Hodgson
Hodgson was flanked by chairman Martin Broughton at his
press conference in Anfield's trophy room.
And the man brought in to oversee the sale of the club by
co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett again reiterated players
would not have to be sold to pay down Liverpool's £351million debt
and he was hopeful of hanging on to their star players.
"I haven't personally had any conversations with them but
conversations have taken place and we remain optimistic on that,"
said Broughton, who did confirm any money raised from player sales
would be reinvested in the squad.
"I know there are rumours out there about the club needing to
sell players. "If I can just go on record again and say they are
not for sale, we don't need the money. "We don't have any desire or
need to sell players in order to pay down the debt."
Hodgson was unwilling to discuss the transfer funds likely to be
available. "It's not the right time to talk about that," he said.
"It's a bit disappointing that the matters of money have been
spoken about over football on my first day.
"I took this job because I wanted to be manager of Liverpool. I
want to benefit from the huge fan base and the incredible
support.
"I wanted to be part of that. I'd like to sign off on the
financial part and leave that to the man sat beside me (chairman)
Martin Broughton because he knows more about these things than
me."
Hodgson's name had been linked with England in the wake of the
national team's woeful performance at the World Cup under Fabio
Capello. But he dismissed suggestions he had been waiting to see
what happened to the Italian before making his choice.
"There was never a question that I should hold on and hedge my
bets for something different because I wanted to be here - it was
quite simply that," said Hodgson, whose appointment came from a
shortlist of two who were interviewed at the weekend.
Hodgson has targeted a return to the Champions League for the
Reds. He said: "This is a very big club, a club with enormous
tradition and when the club is sold it will get stronger rather
than weaker.
"My priority is to try to get the team doing better than last
season and get them back into the Champions League spots."
Hodgson led Fulham into the final of the Europa League last
season "I am here on merit, I know the club did their homework
before asking me to be their manager and my aim is to work for the
club and the people of Liverpool."
Asked if he saw the club as bigger than Inter Milan, one of the
clubs he has previously managed, Hodgson was keen not to offend the
Italian club's owner.
Hodgson said: "Making comparisons with Inter would be very harsh
- I don't want to make that comparison because I am friends with
Massimo Moratti.
"It's (Liverpool) as big, there's no doubt about that and
certainly the challenge is as big as when I went to Inter."
Broughton also clarified the situation regarding Kenny Dalglish
by revealing the man who won the double for Liverpool in his first
year in charge in 1986 was never a candidate this time round.
Club ambassador Dalglish was asked to advise on Benitez's
successor and put his own name forward. But Broughton said: "Kenny
put his name in for the job and we appreciated the fact he wanted
to do it but he was never a candidate.
"He is happy in his current ambassadorial role."
