The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Flapping Eagles turn to veteran Hodgson
would you consider it?’.
“So, I had a look and thought ‘Chair of UK Sport? That’s quite big’.
“I knew that they had gone out to a lot of people, but when I looked at all the requirements of the job I realised I had all the basic requirements.
“I didn’t know what to put in the CV but I realised all the skills I learned from sport are actually highly transferable, useful, valid and valuable in any environment.
“I was proud of my CV in the end.
“I went to the interview panel in April and waited quite a while. I started the job on July 1.”
A number of national governing bodies have already started to canvas Grainger about UK Sport’s funding decisions.
Eleven sports had all investment cut when UK Sport announced its £345million four-year plan in December with badminton, archery, fencing, table tennis and weightlifting among the sports to have lost appeals against the cuts.
These are difficult times in the sporting landscape, but Grainger feels ready for the challenge ahead.
She added: “I’m loving it.
“Someone asked me last week if it was what I expected but I struggle with that – I didn’t have expectations.
“I was aware of UK Sport as I’ve been funded by them.
“That’s the athlete point of view, but it’s much bigger than that. And there is a lot to learn.
“The thing I miss most about rowing is being a member of a motivated team on a mission and the bond that brings. But this is very similar. Everyone in UK Sport is very passionate and is aware they have a huge responsibility to try to make things better.
“We’re in interesting times. The word challenge has come up more than any other.
“But my athlete’s mentality makes me realise not everything is perfect, so I’d like to get involved and try to make things better.” Roy Hodgson is the new Crystal Palace manager in place of the sacked Frank de Boer.
The former England manager said he is: “Looking forward” to working with the Eagles players.
Hodgson, pictured, emerged as the clear frontrunner for the Palace role even before the 1-0 defeat at Burnley on Sunday which sealed De Boer’s fate.
Palace are the first team in England’s top division to lose their opening four games without scoring a goal since Preston 93 years ago.
The 70-year-old’s appointment was confirmed by Palace officials last night and Hodgson said: “I haven’t met them (the players) yet but I am looking forward to working with them.
“They did very well last season especially towards the end of the season, so I’ve got no reason to believe they can’t do it again.”
“Pleased to be back at the highest level with a good club”
Hodgson insisted there were no ill-effects from his ignominious departure from the England job after the humbling Euro 2016 defeat to Iceland.
Hodgson added: “I didn’t want to end my career on a bad result, but I think the 56 games and the seven defeats is not so bad.
“We changed the team around and the young, exciting team is the team I was putting together.
“We lost a knockout game and I was very sad about that. I can’t put that right but I’m very pleased to be back at the highest level with a good football club.”