Rafa Benitez has raised doubts about his long-term future at Liverpool by delaying signing a third contract offer.
Benitez stunned American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett by stalling on a new four-year deal which had been specially reworded to ensure he had full control over transfers and the youth academy.
Negotiations will not restart until after Wednesday's Champions League clash against Benitez's former club Real Madrid at the earliest.
The manager's stance will cast a new question mark over whether he will be at the club next season as he is clearly reluctant to commit his future while chief executive Rick Parry and Gillett remain in power.
The owners believe they have given enough concessions to accommodate Benitez's wishes and had wanted the deal signed by today's Premier League game against Manchester City.
But for the first time he is contemplating what alternatives are out there.
A source said: 'Rafa cannot carry on working unless the way the club is run changes.
'It has been extremely difficult for the past two years, he does not want four more years of the same. He feels he gets the blame for everything that goes wrong at Liverpool. It is him in the window while everyone else can hide.'
With Hicks and Benitez on one side and Gillett and Parry on the other, the impasse is likely to continue until someone resigns or is sacked.
Benitez hoped the fall-guy would be Parry, but it may be him, with Real Madrid, Manchester City and AC Milan keeping a close eye on developments.
Benitez stunned American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett by stalling on a new four-year deal which had been specially reworded to ensure he had full control over transfers and the youth academy.
Negotiations will not restart until after Wednesday's Champions League clash against Benitez's former club Real Madrid at the earliest.
The manager's stance will cast a new question mark over whether he will be at the club next season as he is clearly reluctant to commit his future while chief executive Rick Parry and Gillett remain in power.
The owners believe they have given enough concessions to accommodate Benitez's wishes and had wanted the deal signed by today's Premier League game against Manchester City.
But for the first time he is contemplating what alternatives are out there.
A source said: 'Rafa cannot carry on working unless the way the club is run changes.
'It has been extremely difficult for the past two years, he does not want four more years of the same. He feels he gets the blame for everything that goes wrong at Liverpool. It is him in the window while everyone else can hide.'
With Hicks and Benitez on one side and Gillett and Parry on the other, the impasse is likely to continue until someone resigns or is sacked.
Benitez hoped the fall-guy would be Parry, but it may be him, with Real Madrid, Manchester City and AC Milan keeping a close eye on developments.
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