Fulham owner Mohamed Al Fayed was clearly still bitter with former manager Roy Hodgson after criticising the new Liverpool boss for having taken advantage of the Craven Cottage outfit and leaving for Anfield this summer.

Hodgson won acclaim for his achievements at Fulham where he first led the club to safety in his first season and subsequently steered them to Premier League respectability with top ten finishes in the past two seasons, as well as a Europa League final showing last season. The results eventually led him to the Anfield post when he made the switch last month.

But Al Fayed was left frustrated by Hodgson’s lack of loyalty and claimed that without the team at the club, Hodgson would never have achieved what he did. The Egyptian also went further by insisting that Liverpool would be dragged down by their new manager.

“(Mark Hughes) inherited a great team which had fantastic results but unfortunately this guy (Roy Hodgson), after we put him where he is now, he took advantage and left us,” he said, “but good luck to him, good luck to Liverpool.”

“Roy disappointed the fans and the players.

“I’m sure he’ll take Liverpool downhill. He was just a bugger. I did everything to help him. But that’s his character, he can’t help it.

“After we put him where he is now, he took advantage but good luck to him.

“We gave him all the support, we believed in him and he let us down. I forgive him, anyhow.”

The Fulham owner had better words to say about new manager Mark Hughes during the latter’s official press conference yesterday to unveil his arrival at Craven Cottage, claiming that the newly appointed Welshman will bring “no complications”.

“He is a nice guy. He is much better looking and I am sure that he will do a great job. I am sure that there will be no complications. We have a great managing director and chief executive and we’re happy to have someone like Mark in place.” Al Fayed added.

“Mark’s much better than the previous one. He knows what he’s doing.

“We have a nice guy now. Don’t mention Roy Hodgson any more.

“Fulham’s a wonderful club and I’m sure Mark will do a great job.

“The players will like him – he’s going to win us the championship.”

Tags: English Premier League, football managers, Fulham, Liverpool, Mark Hughes, Mohamed Al Fayed, Roy Hodgson