QPR’s Mark Hughes: FA should have waited to unveil Roy Hodgson

QPR's Mark Hughes criticises the FA's decision to unveil Roy Hodgson as England boss before the Premier League's conclusion

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By Kieran Beckles at Harlington Friday 4 May 2012, 14:40 UK

Roy Hodgson was unveiled as England manager at Wembley on TuesdayPA Photos

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Mark Hughes has criticised the Football Association’s decision to name Roy Hodgson as England manager before the end of the Premier League season.

Queens Park Rangers are above 18th-placed Bolton Wanderers on goal difference but the Trotters face Hodgson’s West Bromich Albion side at the Reebok Stadium on Sunday.

Hughes is hopeful Hodgson, who was unveiled as Fabio Capello’s successor on Tuesday, will have his side fully motivated for their tie against Bolton – but the QPR boss feels the FA should have delayed the announcement.

“It’s a great opportunity for Roy,” said Hughes. “I’m really pleased that he’s been given that opportunity. He’s paid his dues and had a fantastic managerial career so I’m sure he’ll do exceptionally well.

“I was a little bit disappointed that it came out this week. I felt people could have kept it under wraps until all the league games were out of the way and all the issues that need to be concluded were finalised. But that hasn’t been the case and it’s come out early.

“But I’d like to think, and I hope, that it won’t have an impact on West Brom’s performance [against Bolton Wanderers]. I’d like to think they’ll work exceptionally hard for their manager who has done a fantastic job for them.

“I don’t know [if Bolton will have an advantage].”

Bolton failed to to leapfrog QPR on Wednesday night after Owen Coyle’s side were comprehensively beaten 4-1 by Tottenham Hotspur.

And Hughes says Tottenham’s win gave his QPR squad a timely boost ahead of a must-win game against Stoke City at Loftus Road on Sunday.

Asked if he watched the game, Hughes said: “[Yes] I put myself through that. I think everyone deal with the pressure in different ways. I felt I needed to sit through it, take it in and deal with it.

“As it happened, from our point of view, if Bolton had won the game it would have made it more difficult for us but that didn’t happen. We’ve got somewhat of a lift as a consequence of that and helps to make Sunday a huge game for us.”