Henry warns no quick-fix to Liverpool's problems

LIVERPOOL’S PRINCIPAL owner, John W Henry, has warned there will be no quick-fix to the club’s problems and that it is likely to be next summer before New England Sports Ventures can improve the first-team squad.

Disillusionment around Anfield has not dispelled since NESV completed its €350 million takeover last month, with supporters again turning on the manager Roy Hodgson following Saturday’s dismal defeat at Stoke City and key players questioning the future direction of the club.

In an interview with a supporters’ website, Red And White Kop, Henry insists it is “simply wrong” to blame the manager for the malaise at Liverpool and up to the squad to sustain the form that defeated Chelsea only last weekend. However, while Liverpool are looking at transfer targets for January, and Hodgson watched the Rennes midfielder Yann M’Vila against Auxerre on Sunday, Henry admits the much-needed overhaul at Anfield will be a long-term process, with emphasis on improving the output from the club’s youth academy.

“The club has gone through a very difficult period and the period has not ended,” the Liverpool owner said. “Blaming the manager or any one particular player is simply wrong. This club needs to play up to their potential every match.”

Damien Comolli, recently appointed as Liverpool’s inaugural director of football strategy, yesterday echoed that sentiment in his first interview since moving from St Etienne. The former director of football at Tottenham said: “As I’ve just joined, we’ve got only a few weeks to prepare for the window but we are also looking at the summer transfer window. That’s what I would call short-term but then long-term we are already looking at things like the pre-season tour for next season.”

Henry confirmed his support for the changes made at youth level last summer, when Frank McParland returned to the club as academy director and appointed two former Barcelona youth coaches, Jose Segura and Rodolfo Borrell, with a view to replicating the Spanish champions’ production line.

Guardian Service