The protracted £300million takeover by New England Sports Ventures was completed yesterday after a number of legal wrangles were ironed out. Hodgson said the long-running saga over the ownership could not be used by the players as an excuse for their poor performances this season. But he felt confidence had been affected by a run of disappointing displays, culminating in the embarrassing 2-1 defeat at home to Premier League newcomers Blackpool a fortnight ago. It is not the form a manager would want heading into a Merseyside derby at Goodison Park tomorrow and, although Everton's results have not been much better, Hodgson is worried what effect it has had on his squad. "It is a fresh start for the club and hopefully that will mean a fresh start for everyone," he said. "You have to forgive me if I am a little bit more cynical about the emphasis placed on a couple of bad results at the start of a season. "I don't think we have played that well but I don't think we should start suggesting because there has been a problem with the ownership issue the team has not tried but now (there are new owners) they will start. "The players will be pleased the ownership issue has been resolved. That is very positive. "But they will be very nervous because they are going into the game with six points from seven games. "They have had a lot of criticism for their last performance in particular against Blackpool and some of them were quite heavily criticised for their performances for their national teams. "They may be worried that once again the result is not going to go their way and the criticism will come flying from all corners - some may be justified, some may not." Hodgson added that their problem had been they were forced to come from behind in most of their matches. "Unfortunately we've had to catch up and get back into games and in doing that we have taken risks and thrown players forward," said the former Fulham boss. "To some extent that has looked better and given a better impression but, on the other hand, it is not the solid, organised performances I would like to see in games. "In the Premier League if you have to open yourself up to score goals you are going to leave yourself open to the counter-attack and that is what happened against Blackpool. "It would be nice one day if we could be more solid from start to finish and we could have something to defend rather than catch up on." Hodgson has insisted he can turn things around at the club provided he is given support and afforded patience by the new owners. He received a phone call from John W Henry, head of NESV, earlier in the week but it was more out of courtesy than anything strategic and no discussions were had about his future at the club or transfer budgets. The new owner also hopes to meet the manager and players at Melwood today. It was not intentional but the 63-year-old's declaration of confidence in his ability to get the team performing to expectations sounded like an application to keep his job. There has been no suggestion that Hodgson's position is under threat and there is certainly no provision - "I have a three-year contract so if someone wants to get rid of me they presumably pay up my three-year contract" - for him to be jettisoned quickly and cheaply. But the arrival of new owners, as it does anywhere, undoubtedly focuses the minds and increases the scrutiny - especially with Liverpool in the relegation zone. "My appointment here was not taken lightly, we all knew it was going to be a difficult job, and I've started to do the rebuilding job as best I can," said Hodgson. "There are not many jobs you go into where there is no element of risk, especially at this level of football, and I have no regrets at all about taking the decision. "At my age and with all the years I have spent in football, a quieter, more tranquil life - and certainly a quieter, more tranquil start to my work at this great club - would have been very desirable. "I haven't got that, partly because of the ownership issue but mainly because we've played seven matches and got six points. "But it is a sad day for everything if, after a bad spell in six or seven games, people think the solution is to find someone with a magic wand - we all know the magic wand solution doesn't exist. "I would be very disappointed if after such a short time people decided to get someone else in because I don't seriously believe that is the problem at the moment, it is more complicated than that. "I know I can turn the situation around but I'll have to be given support and the patience and time to do it."
