Source: SKY_Sports
Hodgson expects easier sale
Roy Hodgson believes Fulham's impressive season will make it easier to entice fresh faces to the club.[LNB] The Cottagers remain on course to land a Europa League place this term, with a seventh-placed finish in the Premier League expected to be good enough to secure a route into Europe.[LNB]While the focus must remain on finishing the current campaign as strongly as possible, attentions have already begun to turn towards the summer.[LNB]Hodgson, like any manager, is keen to strengthen his squad and hopes the ambition on show at Craven Cottage will prove to be a useful bargaining tool.[LNB]"I do now expect it to be easier to attract players here," he said.[LNB]"Luckily we've made ourselves a slightly more attractive proposition for new players with the work we've done this season.[LNB]Advantage"We have the great advantage of being in the right part of England - people like to live in London, and in particular South West London.[LNB]"The reputation of this club has always been quite high, so in the past people haven't turned their nose up at Fulham.[LNB]"One of the things that could have been seen as a disadvantage is people saying Fulham are a nice club but can they really match my ambitions of being a top-class Premiership player?[LNB]"But what we've shown this season is that we can offer them that as well.[LNB]"I'd be disappointed if people turned their nose at us because they thought we are not worthy of their services."[LNB]While hopeful of attracting big names to Fulham during the off season, Hodgson admits he will still be working under the constraints of a tight budget.[LNB]Restricted"We'll be restricted in the number of players we can bring in by the budget we're given and the amount of money we have to spend," he said.[LNB]"Numbers per se don't guarantee you anything anyway. I'd rather prepare for the season and deal with Europe rather than put Europe up there as a major factor.[LNB]"We're not the sort of club that could ever have a rotation policy in the same way as the top four teams.[LNB]"It's very difficult to keep people happy at the level we're going to be working at.[LNB]"Our recruitment policy will be the same whether we make Europe or not.[LNB]"If we do make Europe it will put a strain on the squad as the size of the squad won't necessarily be geared to it."[LNB]
