Reds searching for new king

17 May 2012 07:17

Liverpool's owners are focused on ensuring their next appointment is the right one after deciding Kenny Dalglish was not the man to deliver their vision.

The Scot was sacked on Wednesday just 12 months into a three-year contract after Fenway Sports Group determined an eighth-placed finish did not represent sufficient grounds for optimism.

"Our job now is to identify and recruit the right person to take this club forward and build on the strong foundations put in place during the last 18 months," said principal owner John Henry.

Dalglish disagreed with their verdict, pointing to a first trophy in six years and an appearance in the FA Cup final, but the Americans left no room for sentimentality in removing the 61-year-old fan favourite.

Chairman Tom Werner, who only a month ago insisted Dalglish had their full support, admitted the fact Liverpool finished 17 points behind fourth-placed Tottenham was a concern for them. "Results in the Premier League have been disappointing and we believe to build on the progress that has already been made, we need to make a change," he said.

Managing director Ian Ayre paid tribute to the stabilising effect Dalglish had had since taking over from Roy Hodgson in January 2011 and was confident the club was well-placed to move forward - even though they have no manager, no director of football and no news on proposed plans for a new stadium or redevelopment of Anfield.

"The football club is now in a much healthier shape than it was last January off the pitch," he told liverpoolfc.tv. "The owners have removed the debt and everything is now being put in place to compete commercially and financially with our main rivals.

"The only missing piece of the jigsaw - the most important piece of the jigsaw - is football and success in the Premier League."

Dalglish said: "Of course I am disappointed with results in the league but I would not have swapped the Carling Cup win for anything as I know how much it meant to our fans and the club to be back winning trophies.

"Whilst I am obviously disappointed to be leaving the football club, I can say that the matter has been handled by the owners and all concerned in an honourable, respectful and dignified way and reflects on the quality of the people involved and their continued desire to move the football club forward in the same way as when they arrived here."

Source: PA