Benitez still waiting for new contract

ENGLISH PREMIER NEWS:RAFAEL BENITEZ is still waiting to be approached by Liverpool's American owners over a new contract, nine months after Tom Hicks revealed his intention to extend the Spaniard's stay at Anfield.

Despite overseeing an impressive start to the Premier League campaign - the side lie second to Chelsea on goal difference - and progressing to the lucrative group phase of the Champions League for the fifth time in five seasons as Liverpool manager, Benitez has received no word on a contract extension.

The issue did not arise when the Liverpool manager met George Gillett, Hicks' co-owner, before and after the league victory over Manchester United at Anfield last month and there are no plans in place to open negotiations.

Benitez's deal expires at the end of next season and while that offers ample time to negotiate a new contract for the 48-year-old, who wishes to extend his Anfield reign, the delay is a further illustration of the impasse which exists among the Liverpool hierarchy and the uncertainty that it brings to long-term planning at the club. Although Hicks wants to offer the manager at least a 12-month extension, he cannot do so without the agreement of Gillett or acquiring majority control of Liverpool. The Texan has neither at present.

"I would prefer to have a long-term contract and then you can have a long-term plan," said Benitez, who was last night encouraged by news that the defender Martin Skrtel should be back by Christmas from the knee injury he sustained on Sunday at Manchester City.

"All managers are in the same situation. The problem in England now is that everyone wants to be successful too soon. That is the part of the game I don't like. But I'm really pleased to be here and I have two more years left on my contract, so right now I'm just trying to do my job as best I can. I've always said I want to stay here for many years."

In January Hicks revealed plans to extend Benitez' contract, having sparked outrage among Liverpool supporters by approaching Jurgen Klinsmann about the Spaniard's job, with Gillett, two months earlier. He followed that in April by stating: "If I were to buy George out the first thing I would do is offer Rafa a one-year extension to make sure he is going to be here up to when we get the stadium. Hopefully we could have some success and then extend him again."

Both Liverpool's new stadium and Hicks' hopes of purchasing just one per cent of Gillett's stake have since stalled, with the global economic crisis cited for the construction delay and Gillett preferring to sell to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The ruler of Dubai has not conceded defeat in his attempt to buy Liverpool but the Americans' valuation of the club remains far in excess of what he is prepared to pay.

But Benitez is determined to keep off-field distractions to a minimum: "I'm not really worried about the situation at the moment. I am trying to be pragmatic about it and am just concentrating on the things I can improve."

Benitez was relieved to discover Skrtel is expected to be sidelined for little more than two months. The Slovakian visited a specialist yesterday and was informed that knee surgery is unnecessary.

Guardian Service