Rafa rejects new contract

[CarraLegend]

RAFA Benitez has rejected the contract offered to him by Liverpool Football Club.

 

The Spaniard insists he will only agree to the new deal if given more control over football matters - rather than having to answer to a club chief executive.

 

Benitez, who insists money is not an issue, has informed American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett of his stand.

 

Today he said: “"The owners feel that the manager's decisions need to be subject to the chief executive.

 

“But I know that I am subject to results and to our fans and they are the best judges I will ever have.”

 

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-f...00252-22708447/

 

*awaits hate mob*

Edited January 16, 2009 by CarraLegend

[The Hitman]

I don't think Rafa likes Parry....

[pawiddop]

It has come to head now, poor timing though, especially with the derby on Monday.

 

I think Rafa or a club chief executive might not last until the summer.

[Magic8Ball]

If Rafa wins the league. The Americans would be MAD to not agree to his terms - if they refused it would devalue the club AND may players would leave too

[Jarg Armani]

It has come to head now, poor timing though, especially with the derby on Monday.

 

Pretty sure Rafa knows how 'poor' the timing is.

[Berger]

When Rafa wins the league everything will be over.

[johngibo YPC]

I don't think Rafa likes Parry....

 

i don't, but generally he is making a fair point

If results are bad its the manager who gets sacked, not the Chief Executive

[D.Boon]

Mmm let me see, give Rafa the decision making power or Parry? Its a tricky one alright.

 

We are the kings of dragging out contract talks aren't we?

[Bogman]

Happy new year everybody :dynamite:

[muleskinner]

Rick Parry is out of contract in April isn't he?

[D.Boon]

It has come to head now, poor timing though,

 

Madness isn't it? The manager and one of our key, bright young things unsettled just as Man U are about to knock us off top spot.

[Magic8Ball]

Rick Parry is out of contract in April isn't he?

EXACTLY

People are saying the timing is poor, but is it ?

Think Negotiation 101 increase your leverage and get the timing right. Winning the league is enormous leverage, and delaying till the management can match your demands could be possible if the assertion Parry's contract is up in April is true

[Marvin]

I really don't like the fact that this is at the stage where it is in the public domain - it suggests a stand-off and we all know how that turned out at Valencia

[muleskinner]

Onwards and upwards for the players or drift off the top not knowing where they will be next season or who they will be playing for?

 

Be interesting to see if there is a public response from Parry or the owners. I think there will only be one outcome sadly, the board won't want to be seen to be dictated to.

Edited January 16, 2009 by muleskinner

[Flasher]

Hicks wanted to sack Parry, did he not?

[Bogman]

No deal: Stunner as Rafa Benitez rejects Anfield contract offer - Liverpool FC latest

JAN 16 2009 BY TONY BARRETT, LIVERPOOL ECHO

 

RAFA Benitez has rejected Liverpool’s contract offer.

 

The Reds boss today told the ECHO it was “with great regret” that he has declined the proposal but feels he has no other option.

 

Benitez says he has no complaints with the financial terms of the deal on the table, nor the length of the proposed contract with these elements having been agreed by all parties last month.

 

The Spaniard is adamant he has no quarrel with Liverpool owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, insisting recent talks have never been anything but amicable. But he feels the conditions of the contract would not allow him to manage football matters at the club to the best of his abilities.

 

As revealed in the ECHO on December 19, the sticking point throughout the negotiations has been what Benitez terms his “role and responsibilities”, with the Liverpool manager keen to have a bigger say in the running of the club’s academy and an increased influence over transfers. This request has been turned down by Hicks and Gillett, resulting in Benitez rejecting their offer.

 

“My relationship with the owners is better than people think,” he insisted. “I have regular contact with them and especially with Tom Hicks who has always been very supportive.

 

“The talks between my agent and the advisers of the owners have been very positive and friendly and our differences are about my responsibilities.

 

“The owners feel that the manager’s decisions need to be subject to the chief executive but I know that I am subject to results and to our fans and they are the best judges I will ever have.

 

“I have a lot of experience in football at different clubs and if you do not have a technical director and you are the manager you have to have control of the football decisions. But always within the confines of a budget which is controlled by the owners and the club.

 

“In this scenario the manager knows the amount money he has available to him and can decide how much he should spend on each player according to the needs of the team.

“The only person who can decide the value of a player to his squad is the manager because he knows what elements are needed to improve the squad.”

 

Benitez has long been frustrated about being contractually denied a greater influence over Liverpool’s youth academy and had sought to have the situation reversed in talks with Hicks and Gillett. The owners, though, have told him they are not ready to bow to his demands, leaving Benitez frustrated at what he sees as a missed opportunity to improve the Kirkby-based facility. He said: “I believe the academy is a very important part of the future of the club.

 

The length of the contract was already agreed and this showed my long term commitment to the club.“I know the academies of Ajax, Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan and Valencia and they are producing players regularly.

 

“The way the system works there means the manager has an input into development and I think this could be the way forward here and we would hope that this would help us make better use of local talent.”

Benitez insists that money has nothing to do with his decision and has told the fans he will continue to give everything in a bid to bring more success to Anfield.

 

And says he now wants to put his contract situation behind him for the time being in order to concentrate on Monday night’s eagerly awaited Premier League clash with Everton.“I have to say again that this is not about financial gain. This is not a way to get more money,” he added. “This is solely about being allowed to manage Liverpool Football Club to the best of my abilities as I see them.

 

“I believe that this club has the potential to improve and I just want to be able to help this to happen.“I will continue to do my job as manager and concentrate on the thing that our fans want me to focus on – winning trophies for them.“From the first day I came to the club I have only ever given 100% and I will continue to do this.“We have a very important game coming up against Everton on Monday night and now I just want to be able to concentrate only on this.”

[Boca]

Doesn't every manager have to answer to a chief executive?

[muleskinner]

What chance a restructure with a dreaded technical director coming in, Parry out and Ian Ayres taking over as CEO?

[Case]

If we win the Leage, my a***.

 

We haven't a hope as log as the circus is in town.

 

FFS

[muleskinner]

If we win the Leage, my a***.

 

We haven't a hope as log as the circus is in town.

 

FFS

 

Gosh

[CarraLegend]

Doesn't every manager have to answer to a chief executive?

 

No idea, but with the Alonso, Barry summer stuff and Parry's supposed interference its no wonder Rafa is pissed off. That might of all worked out well in the end but the next time it probably wont, seems he doesnt mind Parry doing the deals but Rafa is the one who should decide exactly what we pay etc etc within our budget, dont see a problem with that myself, he afterall has forgotten more about football than Parry knows.

[Boca]

No idea, but with the Alonso, Barry summer stuff and Parry's supposed interference its no wonder Rafa is pissed off. That might of all worked out well in the end but the next time it probably wont, seems he doesnt mind Parry doing the deals but Rafa is the one who should decide exactly what we pay etc etc within our budget, dont see a problem with that myself, he afterall has forgotten more about football than Parry knows.

 

 

Yeah, having read the entire interview I can see where he is coming from alright.

[briant2001]

Perfect timing if you ask me!

 

Don't these boys need to refinance this week? Instability at the club, more unpopularity for the owners - soulds like a put up or ship out call for Rafa.

 

C ya Ricky!

 

[JonErr]

Sack Parry ASAP

[Tones]

No idea, but with the Alonso, Barry summer stuff and Parry's supposed interference its no wonder Rafa is pissed off. That might of all worked out well in the end but the next time it probably wont, seems he doesnt mind Parry doing the deals but Rafa is the one who should decide exactly what we pay etc etc within our budget, dont see a problem with that myself, he afterall has forgotten more about football than Parry knows.

 

Yeah Parry would be needed to go and get the player, but it should be up to Rafa which players we want, which ones are the priority and how much the players are worth. Parry isnt qualified to do that.