Hodgson resigns from Grasshoppers

Switzerland's biggest football club, Grasshoppers Zurich, is looking for a new manager following the shock resignation of Roy Hodgson. Hodgson stepped down just hours after the side's 2-0 home defeat against Lucerne on Sunday.

Although Grasshoppers said they were completely surprised by the decision, recent results have left the club floundering in mid-table and that may have been cause enough for Hodgson to go.

However, the resignation follows a number of reports in the Blick newspaper, which claimed the Englishman had been holding talks with the Turkish club, Besiktas, about the possibility of becoming their new coach.

At a press conference after Sunday’s game, Hodgson made no mention of his plan to step down. But he did complain about what he called the media’s unproven claims against him.

Hodgson had been at the club since last August, and enjoyed success in the first half of the 1990s as the Swiss national coach. Grasshoppers say they will continue the season under a temporary coaching team, headed by the current assistant manager, Walter Grüter.

In other football action, Sankt Gallen have consolidated their 11 point lead in the league table with a convincing 3-0 win over Neuchatel Xamax. They now only need four points to win the league which would be their first such title since 1904.

There was less good fortune for current champions Servette Geneva, who were beaten by Lausanne 3-1 and have consequently slipped down to sixth place in the league table. They are eight points short of securing a place in the UEFA Cup.

Second placed Basel were able to hold on to their track record of not conceding a single defeat in the last nine matches by beating Yverdon 1-0. Basel have now been given a three point lead over Lausanne.

swissinfo with agencies