Source: Team_Talk
Purslow exit no concern for Hodgson
iverpool manager Roy Hodgson has insisted that he does not feel under pressure, despite seeing members of the board leave the club.[LNB] Managing director Christian Purslow stood down from his role on Wednesday, instead becoming a non-executive director and adviser to new owners New England Sports Ventures.[LNB]Purslow played a huge part in the deal to wrestle power from former owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks, which finally went through after a drawn-out court battle on Friday, as well as bringing Hodgson to Anfield during the summer.[LNB]Despite Purslow being one of his closest allies on Merseyside since his move from Fulham in July and suffering a dismal record of one win in eight league games and sitting 19th in the table, Hodgson was confident Purslow's departure would have no bearing on his future.[LNB]"Not that I know," was his response.[LNB]"But the fact is that is not a question for me to answer. I had no idea Christian was going to leave the club and I have no opinion on the subject. I came here to work with the football club and not with an individual of the club.[LNB]"I also believe my appointment was made after a lot of consideration, after looking at all the alternatives, and I was regarded by the team who made the decision as the best man for the job.[LNB]"I am happy about that and I am happy for that to carry on that way.[LNB]"I came to Liverpool because it was a great club and a great job and a great opportunity to build the club back up to its former glories.[LNB]"Certainly at the moment that doesn't look like the case but it is early days and we still believe we can turn this around.[LNB]"It is a great honour to be manager of Liverpool. Obviously it would have been a happier time for me if we were winning every game and weren't second-bottom of the table."[LNB]Hodgson also had to explain his decision to leave behind key players Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard, Lucas and Raul Meireles despite their awful form, with Dirk Kuyt and Daniel Agger already on the injury list.[LNB]"I was concerned that if players like Lucas Leiva and Raul Meireles were to play tomorrow it would be five matches in two weeks," said Hodgson, who admitted it was a risk.[LNB]"And when it comes to Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres - two important players - we have an important league game on Sunday.[LNB]"For me it was, quite simply, a priority. After our very poor start to the season and bad results, if we had to make a sacrifice within the team in one game or another, in which game do you make it?[LNB]"I made the decision to make the sacrifice in this game because we need a win more badly on Sunday than we do tomorrow.[LNB]"I wouldn't want to be in a situation where I played Gerrard and Torres and one of them got injured or were tired and our performance suffered.[LNB]"If we then lose tomorrow and people say we chose a weakened team because I prioritised Sunday over this game then I will hold my hands up and say they are right."
