‘Right mermaid’ Roy Hodgson confident he can steer Watford out of choppy waters

Roy Hodgson admitted he was unable to resist the lure of the “siren call from the mermaid” after wading back into the Premier League relegation scrap with Watford.

The 74-year-old former England manager, who left his last job at Crystal Palace eight months ago, was named the new Hornets boss last week after Claudio Ranieri’s sacking.

Watford are second from bottom, two points from safety, with 18 matches remaining.

But just he had done previously with Palace, Fulham and West Brom, Hodgson believes he is capable of another rescue act.

At his first press conference since his appointment, Hodgson said: “I think it’s more than possible, I wouldn’t have accepted the challenge had I not believed that we can help the club stay in the Premier League.

I wouldn't have accepted the challenge had I not believed that we can help the club stay in the Premier League- Roy Hodgson

“I’m quite confident in that respect that the work we do will have an effect but of course the proof of the pudding is always in the eating.

“Whether it’s a wise decision or a foolish one, time will tell. Why did I come back? I think it was an exciting offer.

“I wasn’t expecting any calls from Watford or anyone else for that matter. But it was a very easy job to accept.

“It was the siren call from the mermaid as the sailor passes by on his ship. They got the right mermaid going past the right ship.”

Hodgson could have been forgiven for being wary of working under the Pozzo family, Watford’s trigger-happy owners who are onto their 16th head coach since they took over in 2012, and with whom he fell out while in charge at Udinese, a row leading to his departure in 2001.

However, Hodgson added: “Any reservations? No not at all. What happened there was as much my