ROY HODGSON admits he would not recognise the man who he is succeeding him at Watford this summer in what appeared to be a blunt dig.
The veteran manager, 74, is retiring at the end of the season after his brief return to the dug-out with the Hornets ended in relegation from the Premier League.
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It has now been confirmed that Rob Edwards will replace him as Watford boss once the campaign is over following his controversial departure from League Two champions Forest Green Rovers.
When Hodgson was asked about the 39-year-old ahead of tomorrow’s home game against Leicester City, he said: “I wouldn’t recognise him if I saw him.
“He doesn’t need to speak with me, his talk is going to be with Gino Pozzo and Cristiano Giaretta, they are the people he needs to speak to.
“If he wants to speak to me then I’d be more than happy to speak with him but I’m not going to impose a conversation on him that he might not want to hear in the first place.
“You can quite happily tell him that if he wants to speak to me and hear anything that I’m thinking then I’ll be more than happy to share with him.
“But it would have to be if it comes from him, and like I say, unfortunately I know who he is and what he’s done but I haven’t seen him or be able to recognise him.”
Forest Green delivered a scathing statement to announce Edwards’ departure this week as they claimed that they were not aware about the ongoing conversations between the coach and Watford.
It read: “FGR confirms the departure of Head Coach Rob Edwards.
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“Rob was a key part of the team that gained promotion to League One this season.
“We’re disappointed that our support, loyalty and honesty towards Rob has been repaid in this way – with negotiations taking place behind our backs.
“We had no contact from Watford, from whom we might expect less, but in any event this kind of behaviour gives football a bad name.
“We thank Rob for all his work at FGR – forgive him the manner of his departure and wish him well.”
