Ayre - We Got Our Man

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre is adamant the Reds got the manager they wanted in Brendan Rodgers, insisting the ex-Swansea boss was the only candidate they made an offer to.

The club's search for Kenny Dalglish's successor attracted criticism from some quarters for being too wide-ranging, but Ayre was satisfied with how they dealt with filling the vacancy after Rodgers was unveiled on Friday.

The managing director admits many candidates were considered but says the Northern Irishman was always Liverpool's first choice.

He said: "There was a process and it was right to have a process. Brendan was at the forefront of that thinking, evidenced by the fact we asked Swansea very early on.

"He was the only person we made an offer to. We got the person we wanted."

Ayre added: "The process is a private process (but) it's fair to say we considered many people because that's what you should do. You try to understand how any individual fits with the profile."

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez was another to have held talks with Liverpool before they plumped for Rodgers.

Ayre said: "Roberto was one of the people in that process. We went through that with a lot of people.

"Some people decided to say they were in the process but they weren't. It was all about understanding individuals and matching their skill-sets with the profile.

"Brendan was at the forefront of that and at the outcome of it and that was exactly what we wanted."

Before Swansea, 39-year-old Rodgers managed at Watford and Reading, while he also spent time as Chelsea's youth team coach after being appointed by former boss Jose Mourinho.

Ayre feels his experience could be key, adding on Liverpool's official website: "When you meet Brendan you can't help but be inspired by his knowledge, passion and vision for the game.

"The experience he has for such a young age shows we are getting someone at the very top of their profession.

"He and our owners both have a clear plan of how to bring success on the pitch and he will have the full support of everyone at Liverpool Football Club while he strives to achieve that."