SOCCER:BRENDAN RODGERS only accepted the offer of becoming Liverpool manager after the owners, Fenway Sports Group, shelved their plans for a sporting director model led by Louis van Gaal.
The 39-year-old was unveiled as Kenny Dalglish’s successor at Anfield having signed a three-year contract that includes an agreement not to raid Swansea City, his former club, for players in the next 12 months. He is expected to be accompanied by three members of his back-room team from Swansea, assistant Colin Pascoe, conditioning expert Glen Driscoll and chief match analyst Chris Davies, and those plans have prompted the departure from Liverpool of Dalglish’s former assistant, Steve Clarke.
FSG approached several candidates for the managerial vacancy but, as chairman Tom Werner confirmed, Rodgers was the only person offered that position. However, the former Watford, Reading and Swansea manager, who rejected Liverpool’s initial approach for an interview, only accepted after three meetings with FSG convinced the owners to dilute plans for a new management structure led by van Gaal.
Ian Ayre, Liverpool’s managing director, explained: “The structure – and Brendan is aware of this – is a more continental director of football-type structure, a collaborative group of people working around the football area.” But it is one with Rodgers at the head and with control over football operations and transfers.
Liverpool’s new manager said: “The owners probably spoke to one or two people about certain roles but I wanted clarity on it [the structure] and I didn’t agree until after three discussions with them. I wanted to make sure it was going to be the case that I would be in charge of football matters. That I would control the team, control the work and then what we have underpinning that is a team all with one vision and one mentality – that is to make the first team better. If it was anything other than that then I couldn’t have said yes because that’s not my strength.
“I am better when I have control. I am not a power freak. But my point is that I need to feel that I can manage the team and have a direct clear line through to the owners. Once that becomes hazy, for me there is a problem. I don’t think it was a model the owners were set on, by any means. I think it’s one that people have come to them and suggested. They are still learning about the game.
“One of the items I brought up when I was speaking to the club was that I wouldn’t directly work with a director of football. I feel that if you are going to do that as a club you have to do that first. That was my recommendation. If you want to have a sporting director, get him in and then you can pick your manager from there but if you do I won’t be the manager.”
Asked if he had 100 per cent confidence that Liverpool will only sign players he identifies, Rodgers added: “Yes. It’s absolute madness if you are the manager of the club and someone else tells you to have that player. It doesn’t work. I’ve had total clarity with that from the guys so I’ve got confidence that that will remain. It was for this reason that I didn’t want to be sat up there, say what I’ve said and then in three weeks time Louis van Gaal walks in the door.”
Rodgers called Steven Gerrard on Thursday to introduce himself to the Liverpool captain, and the midfielder said: “I’ve been kept in the loop all along by the board and the owners, and he was first-choice. So take no notice of Dave Whelan.”
Meanwhile, Aston Villa remain confident that Norwich City are not entitled to any compensation as they finalise preparations to make Paul Lambert their new manager.
Lambert resigned from Carrow Road on Thursday once negotiations between the clubs over a settlement for his “transfer” reached an impasse. As he walked out without a formal job offer the 42-year-old technically made himself a free agent – although Norwich, who claim they have “refused to accept” his resignation, may yet test that view at a tribunal.
Talks between Lambert and Villa were progressing smoothly yesterday with confirmation of his appointment as Alex McLeish’s successor expected shortly.
David McNally, the Norwich chief executive, conceded he was searching for a new manager but claimed Lambert was on gardening leave. “We were in a situation where we were approached by another club to speak to Paul Lambert, we didn’t grant them permission and we were very clear we wanted to keep our manager,”
McNally said. “When it was indicated that he would like the opportunity to speak to this particular club the dynamics changed, and then it was about talking to them about compensation, agreeing compensation and sorting out a time frame, and we are still in that process.”
