Source: Daily_Mail
Fulham's Hodgson tipped to be British team boss at London 2012 Olympics
Favourite: Roy Hodgson[LNB]Roy Hodgson has emerged as the favourite to coach the 'British' team at the London Olympics in 2012. [LNB]The 62-year-old Fulham manager has a growing fan club at the FA and has been identified as the leading candidate for the part-time role. [LNB]Britain will have a side selected only from English players after the governing bodies from the other home nations chose to exclude themselves from the competition, with the agreement that the coach will not be Scottish, Irish or Welsh.[LNB] While that means Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson - identified by Lord Coe as a possible candidate - will not be able to occupy the role, the FA could turn to Fabio Capello. England's Italian boss has already expressed a desire to be involved in the Olympics.[LNB] But Hodgson is leading the field, with Under 21 manager Stuart Pearce also in the frame. [LNB]FA chairman Lord Triesman said: 'We'll start looking at this in earnest and I'd be very disappointed if we haven't appointed a coach for the Olympic team by the end of the year.[LNB] 'I think the coach needs that length of time to identify the players who will make up his squad and start working with them to develop a team spirit. [LNB]'We cannot appoint a Scot, Welshman or Northern Irishman so it would be very desirable to have an English coach. [LNB]'A foreign coach is not entirely out of the question but it will be fantastic to have an Olympics on home soil so it would be great to have a home-grown coach. [LNB]'The most important thing is who would be the best person, and we also have to ensure that any appointment does not interfere with preparations for the World Cup.' [LNB] No go: A Scot cannot be appointed which rules out Sir Alex Ferguson[LNB]Asked about Pearce, Triesman added: 'I'm not going to speculate about names but I am a great admirer of Stuart Pearce. His work with the Under 21s has been really great.' [LNB]Hodgson was relieved to hear Fulham have avoided another monster trip in the Europa League draw after their trip to Russian club Amkar Perm. [LNB]They next face Serie A's Roma, Swiss side FC Basle and Bulgarians CSKA Sofia in Group E.[LNB] 'We see this as an adventure,' said Hodgson. 'We will do our best and put on a good performance, but I will not have sleepless nights if we lose to Roma. I will have sleepless nights if we are bottom of the Premier League and that is why it has to be the priority.' [LNB]Meanwhile,Everton have been warned their Europa League aspirations could be wrecked by a player who was launched to prominence by Rafa Benitez. [LNB][LNB] Pablo Aimar made his name for a Valencia side who outplayed Liverpool in two Champions' League games that led to Benitez being lured to Anfield.[LNB] The Argentina midfielder was later linked with Liverpool but, hampered by injury, joined Racing Santander, prior to a £6million move to Benfica last year. [LNB]Fitness problems continued to haunt him, but there was an ominous warning for Everton after they were drawn against the Portuguese side, as well as AEK Athens and Bate Borisov in Group I. [LNB]'Pablo had some injury concerns, but I believe the're behind him now,' said Benfica coach Jorge Jesus.[LNB] 'He's proved his fitness during the pre-season programme and in our early games, and I'm convinced he is going to be a very important player for us. [LNB]'He wears 10, and that is how he plays, as the one who makes things tick. We're expecting great things from him.' [LNB]Even unfancied Belarus side Bate Borisov held Juventus to two draws in last season's Champions League, and Everton boss David Moyes admitted his side have their work cut out reaching the knock-out stages. [LNB]'The trips to Athens and Belarus are a bit further than we'd have liked, but I'm happy enough with the draw,' he said. [LNB] Aston Villa v FULHAM: Clint Dempsey expected to be fit for CottagersEUROPA LEAGUE DRAW: Everton play Benfica, Fulham face Roma and Celtic tackle Hamburg FULHAM FC
