Saturday, April 09, 2011

Liverpool Owners Reveal Talks With Kenny Dalglish Over Long-Term Deal Began Weeks Ago

Liverpool opened talks with Kenny Dalglish over the permanent managerial position three weeks ago, a senior official at Fenway Sports Group, the consortium who own the Anfield side, has confirmed.

The Scot was appointed on a temporary basis after succeeding Roy Hodgson in January and, despite Liverpool’s vastly improved form in the Premier League and a groundswell of support among the club’s fans, has yet to be given the job full-time.

It had been feared FSG — who had been expected to confirm Dalglish’s ascension after promoting Damien Comolli to director of football and Ian Ayre to managing director last month — were wavering over whether to hand Dalglish the post, but Sam Kennedy, the group’s president, insists nothing could be further from the truth.

“The conversations are happening now with the appropriate people,” he said. “Ian Ayre, Damien Comolli and the ownership. But I do think [Dalglish] has provided a great lift. He is a wonderful man, passionate about the club.”

That lift will be required to steer Liverpool through the final seven games of their season with little or nothing left to play for, beyond pride, and without Steven Gerrard, their captain, ruled out for the rest of the campaign with a groin injury.

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