Roy Hodgson says Liverpool owner John Henry must confirm Kenny Dalglish as his permanent successor, warning that it would be very difficult for another manager to do the job now that the club’s supporters have backed the Scotsman so emphatically.
“The fans want him to have the job,” Hodgson said. “He has the backing of the fans, and the fans are very, very important in football.
"If they don’t give him the job now, it will be very difficult for the next man who gets it, because the fans want him to have it.
“I knew it from the day I walked into the club, because Kenny had made it clear he wanted the job. The job was there, I was offered it, I knew the risk, the potential problems that could arise, and I don’t harbour any regrets or any resentment.”
Hodgson, who was sacked by Liverpool in January, said he would welcome Dalglish to the Hawthorns on Saturday for their league fixture, and would be happy to share a handshake and drink after the match.
But the West Bromwich Albion manager explained that he believed his chances of being successful at Liverpool were always slim once Dalglish had expressed an interest in his job.
“It is difficult to compete with icons. I went to the right club, but perhaps I didn’t arrive at the right time. Kenny made it clear he wanted the job, but the people who were making the decisions at that time decided to go for me.
"It left Kenny in a difficult position because he wanted the job, and when things didn’t go well, having him in the background wasn’t easy. It wouldn’t have been easy for any coach.”
For his part, Dalglish contests the suggestion that he undermined Hodgson. The 60 year-old, who did apply for the job when Rafael Benítez left, insisted that he had been nothing but supportive during a difficult period for both men.
“I had a good, close relationship with Roy when he was here and that is on record,” Dalglish said.
“I’ve always been here to help the football club, and the most important person at the club is the guy in charge, and that guy always maintains the respect of the people at the club.
"The guy who sits in the chair is the most important one and the one who always gets the support.”
Asked in what light he believes Liverpool fans will remember Hodgson, Dalglish said: “Everybody has their own opinions on what happened and their own opinions on individuals, so they will have their own feelings and respect.
"No Liverpool fan wishes bad on anybody.”
Since Hodgson was sacked, Liverpool have sold striker Fernando Torres to Chelsea and brought in Andy Carroll and Luis Suárez for £58 million – both targets of Hodgson’s.
Hodgson said: “Liverpool have got two outstanding front players who are raring to go. Carroll and Suárez, who I scouted, were on a list of players we were considering.
“Carroll was the most wanted striker in English football and Suárez was on everyone’s list after the World Cup and his time at Ajax.”
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