The 64-year-old checked in at The Hawthorns after answering Albion's SOS call following their dismissal of charismatic Italian Roberto Di Matteo. The Baggies were in freefall under the now Chelsea assistant manager - but Hodgson, licking his wounds himself after a torrid tenure at Anfield, worked his managerial magic and steered Albion to an 11th-placed finish. He is only on a short-term contract but insists that doesn't affect his work or targets for the club - and is enjoying having a full pre-season to put his own stamp on the playing staff. Hodgson, currently on a tour of the USA with Albion, told the Express & Star: "Whether I have a long or a short contract I always try to work for the long-term best of the club. I don't try to work for my own goals, I work hopefully in the best interests of the club. "Everything I do is with a view to making certain this club is stronger when I leave it than when I came to it. That is my goal and, as for how long I stay, we will wait and see. "I don't have any strong opinions on that one way or the other. But I enjoy the work and I have an exceptional bunch of players to work with. "They are magnificent professionals and the work on this camp has been outstanding. "If the rest of the pre-season continues in this vain I will be very happy, because it's one of the best training camps I have been on with a team in terms of facilities and everything else." Hodgson admits it was tricky arriving halfway through a top-flight season, and he is relishing being able to start from scratch in training sessions, with plans also in place to try and add goalkeeper Ben Foster, midfielder Owen Hargreaves, defender Liam Ridgewell and striker Shane Long to his squad. The veteran coach added: "When you come in midway through a season it's always difficult because you have to get to know players and you're already in the middle of a very difficult season. "This time we've got the proper time to prepare and we are still very early into pre-season. We're now a couple of weeks into a five-and-a-half-week pre-season period. "Things are gradually taking shape and most importantly we have worked very well."
