Roy Hodgson makes feelings clear over Bristol City extension after dream start to return

Apr 7, 2026 - 18:30

Roy Hodgson is enjoying a successful return to Bristol City, but reiterated in an exclusive interview with talkSPORT that it’s only temporary.

The Robins announced the shock appointment of the 78-year-old on an interim basis last month after they sacked Gerhard Struber.

Roy Hodgson as Bristol City manager. — Hodgson has two wins from two since his surprise return to Bristol City, who are six points off the Championship play-offs

Bristol City were the second club of his iconic managerial career, with Hodgson moving to Ashton Gate in 1982 after his spell at Swedish side Halmstad.

He’s now back for the rest of the Championship season and already made an impact amid their slim hope of finishing in the play-offs.

Victories over Charlton Athletic and Sheffield United have put them within seven points of the top six with five matches to play.

With a 100 per cent win record in his second stint, and a play-off finish not out of the question, Hodgson may well have put himself into consideration for the permanent job.

However, when he appeared on talkSPORT Breakfast, he insisted that he is not thinking about extending his stay beyond the summer.

“Could you see a chain of events where you continue winning, and actually, you’re not allowed to leave, how does that sound?” host Ally McCoist asked him.

“Well, they’d probably have to lock me up I suppose,” Hodgson joked. “And once more, they’d have to tranquilise my wife, who has been so good in accepting the fact that we have moved down here.

“Because she’s moved down with me. I think I’d have found it hard to do it in a hotel by myself, I would have found that hard when I was just starting off and full of enthusiasm for having a job.

“It’s even harder now when I’ve had lots of jobs and I’m getting a lot older. So, I’ve got to say, I don’t really want to…

“I made it clear, or it was made clear to me, that what they wanted me to do was come in for this seven-game period to try and introduce, if you like, my way of what they think I can bring.

“Experience, a way of working, and hoping that maybe the players gain something from that.

“But most important of all, to give them the chance to steady a ship and to bring back hope for the future, while they then take on the very difficult task of finding someone who’s going to be the sporting director, and the new manager for the club.

“So at the moment, as far as I’m concerned, that’s what it is and I hope I’m going to enjoy it. I’ve been lucky so far to enjoy two victories.

“But I must say, I haven’t enjoyed the last 20, 25 minutes of the 90 in either of those… There have been too many balls raining into my penalty area. In the Premier League, we didn’t see that often.”