Bristol City has appointed Roy Hodgson as caretaker manager, following the departure of head coach Gerhard Struber. The 78-year-old Hodgson returns to the club where he managed in 1982, bringing an end to his two-year absence from football. Struber's tenure was marked by a dismal run of one win in nine games, which saw the Robins plummet to 16th in the Championship.
The team's recent form has been a far cry from their promising start, which saw them just a point off the play-off places after a 3-2 win at Hull City on 7 February. However, a series of poor results has left them 12 points adrift of the top six. Key players Zak Vyner and Anis Mehmeti departed the club in January, while Struber also lost three first-choice defenders to injury.
The decision to sack Struber and assistant head coach Bernd Eibler came after the club's recent performances failed to meet expectations. Bristol City's owners have now turned to Hodgson, a veteran manager with a wealth of experience, to steady the ship and guide the team back to form.
Hodgson's appointment is a bold move by Bristol City, but it remains to be seen whether his experience will be enough to turn the team's fortunes around. With a 12-point deficit to the top six, the task ahead is daunting, but Hodgson's reputation as a tactician and motivator may just be the catalyst the team needs.
