Leading article: Don't be too eager to write off Roy Hodgson

The sports world has been underwhelmed by the appointment of Roy Hodgson as the new manager of the England football squad. Those who predicted that Tottenham's Harry Redknapp was a shoo-in have turned their embarrassment to indignation.

Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney, who went on Twitter to back Redknapp, have kept silent. (Though perhaps after their woeful performance for Manchester United on Monday their manager has told them they would be better training than tweeting.) But football is about results not swashbuckling charisma.

Mr Hodgson is an intelligent tactician. He has managed three national teams and has extensive European club, as well as Premiership, experience. He sets his teams up to get a result. England's players should be canny enough to acknowledge that and get behind him. The sceptics would do well to belt up and give the man a chance.