Source: Team_Talk
Hodgson welcomes Comolli's appointment
Manager Roy Hodgson has backed Damien Comolli's appointment as Liverpool's director of football strategy.[LNB] The former Tottenham sporting director has been recruited from St Etienne to overhaul the Reds' transfer policy and scouting activities.[LNB]Hodgson insists the impact of the Frenchman's arrival will be positive as it will allow him to concentrate on coaching the first team and claims it creates a working environment he is more than comfortable with.[LNB]"I feel very good about it. It is something the owners were very keen to put in place," he said.[LNB]"It is a strategy which I think makes sense, especially for our club at this moment in time because we are in a period of transition with new owners.[LNB]"They want a management structure in place which they can identify with, from American or European models and not necessarily an archetypal, if somewhat outdated, English model.[LNB]"The days of the dictator-type English manager have long since passed when everything went through one man and no one dared even buy a paper clip without that person's approval.[LNB]"There are people who dip into the roles which Damien will take over but I think it is important we have someone who will co-ordinate things in that area.[LNB]"He will certainly take a lot of the minor things that you have to deal with, allowing me to concentrate on the team management and he will help us bring the team forward.[LNB]"As far as I am concerned it does not have any effect on my role as manager; I shall be selecting the team and working with the team and making all the decisions which revolve around the team and the matches we play.[LNB]"There is no impact for me as such on my daily work, where he will help the club and help me is in the matter of player recruitment."[LNB]John Henry, principal owner of New England Sports Ventures (NESV), mooted the idea with Hodgson last week and went out to secure Comolli, who has also worked at Arsenal.[LNB]"Today's announcement is just the first step in creating a leadership group and structure designed to develop, enhance and implement our long-term philosophy of scouting, recruitment, player development and all of the other aspects necessary to build and sustain a club able to consistently compete at the highest level in European football," said Henry.[LNB]Further appointments at the top end of the club are expected but as a former Inter Milan manager, Hodgson is not worried by that at all.[LNB]"In Europe I am very used to having a situation where you work alongside people like that," he added.[LNB]"I think we can only profit from it as a club.[LNB]"In most clubs it is a question of titles but when I worked at Fulham I worked very closely with (chief executive) Alistair Mackintosh.[LNB]"He didn't have the title of sporting director but the way we worked together I would have called him that."[LNB]Hodgson has this week held more meetings with Henry, who will be at Thursday night's Europa League Group K tie against Napoli.[LNB]Much work has been done behind the scenes since NESV's takeover last month but Hodgson admits there is plenty more to be achieved.[LNB]Having spoken with Henry, he is pleased the owner is planning for the long term.[LNB]"There is an awful lot of work to be done at this club and we need a management structure that is going to allow us to take that on," he added.[LNB]"Damien's appointment is another step into the right direction from our new owners to show they have the philosophy and vision.[LNB]"They are going to do everything in their power to make sure we get it right and we get the right players in and move forward.[LNB]"Their management structure was made very clear to me. They thought the way we were structured was not as it should be and they wanted to bring in at least one person to add to the management team.[LNB]"Whether they will appoint someone else at the head of the organisation I don't know, but it wouldn't surprise me because they have a clear idea of how this club should operate.[LNB]"They want a management team that is fully functioning, which brings a lot to the table and is going to help them rebuild the club to some extent.[LNB]"I think the fact they have moved so quickly to get Damien in after maybe speaking to me about a week ago shows how intent they are to get things right."
