Rafa Benitez has suffered yet another SNUB at the hands of Liverpool's owners.
The Kop manager expected contract talks to open this week but Americans Tom Hicks and George Gillett have not even decided who will negotiate on their behalf.
Despite Steven Gerrard helping Liverpool to a 2-0 win at Bolton to continue their best ever Premier League start, the American owners have no intention of reaching a speedy conclusion to negotiations — even though they run the risk of losing key players if they delay the manager’s contract.
The pair even seem happy to wait until the summer before concluding a deal.
And, although the pair released a joint statement backing their boss, the News of the World understands there remain deep divisions on what form any contract should take.
Benitez revealed this week preliminary talks had started - but this was nothing more than his advisors contacting the club.
Co-owner Gillett, in particular, wants to play a waiting game to see if Liverpool maintain their fantastic start and is especially concerned about Liverpool’s scouting set-up following the fringe players’ defeat to Spurs in midweek.
Rafa has launched a passionate defence of his talent spotters. He said: “We should remember that the scouting department has signed Skrtel, Reina, Torres, Kuyt, Agger and Mascherano, who was struggling at West Ham but has come here and been amazing.”
There are fears Hicks, who insisted on news of the planned talks being announced, is exploiting Liverpool’s brilliant start to the season as a public relations stunt to help push forward a sale.
The Kop manager expected contract talks to open this week but Americans Tom Hicks and George Gillett have not even decided who will negotiate on their behalf.
Despite Steven Gerrard helping Liverpool to a 2-0 win at Bolton to continue their best ever Premier League start, the American owners have no intention of reaching a speedy conclusion to negotiations — even though they run the risk of losing key players if they delay the manager’s contract.
The pair even seem happy to wait until the summer before concluding a deal.
And, although the pair released a joint statement backing their boss, the News of the World understands there remain deep divisions on what form any contract should take.
Benitez revealed this week preliminary talks had started - but this was nothing more than his advisors contacting the club.
Co-owner Gillett, in particular, wants to play a waiting game to see if Liverpool maintain their fantastic start and is especially concerned about Liverpool’s scouting set-up following the fringe players’ defeat to Spurs in midweek.
Rafa has launched a passionate defence of his talent spotters. He said: “We should remember that the scouting department has signed Skrtel, Reina, Torres, Kuyt, Agger and Mascherano, who was struggling at West Ham but has come here and been amazing.”
There are fears Hicks, who insisted on news of the planned talks being announced, is exploiting Liverpool’s brilliant start to the season as a public relations stunt to help push forward a sale.
No comments:
Post a Comment