IT’S NOT BEEN A BOWL OF CHERRIES
Woodgate ready for Bournemouth after Boro pain
JONATHAN WOODGATE has admitted he made mistakes when he was in charge at Middlesbrough but insists he is confident he can lift Bournemouth out of their rut.
Woodgate, 41, was named as caretaker-manager by the Cherries on Wednesday after Jason Tindall was axed following the 2-1 home defeat by Sheffield Wednesday.
He won only nine matches out of 41 in his year in charge at Middlesbrough before being sacked last June – but his selfconfidence has not been dented. Former England star
John Terry, assistant head coach at Aston Villa, is one of the favourites for the job and has indicated his interest, and former Nice coach Patrick Vieira has also been linked.
Woodgate, whose side face Birmingham today, said: “I’m confident I can do this job. I would not have said I will take the team for today if I was not.
“You believe in your ability. If you went through the games at Middlesbrough, we had spells where we played some really good football and should have done better than we did. One of the mistakes at Boro was not bringing someone in alongside me with that experience of having being there and done it – that person to rely on to give you advice on what they would do in different situations.”
Woodgate only arrived at the Vitality Stadium on Monday after the call from Tindall to help and he admitted he was as surprised as anyone at the turn of events.
Bournemouth have lost four Championship games in a row but are desperate to bounce straight back to the Premier League this season.
“I have been told to take the team for today’s game and that’s all I am concentrating on. I just want to get three points,” said Woodgate.
“I didn’t think anything like this would happen so early.
“But I have been involved with 25 managers in my career and it is a cut-throat business.
“This is a talented bunch of players. I will give it absolutely everything I have.”