Rafas quit threat

[gns]

REDS ROCKED BY RAFA QUIT THREAT

 

Kop boss turns down ANOTHER contract offer

LOSING PATIENCE - Rafa Benitez By CHRIS BASCOMBE, 21/02/2009

 

 

RAFA BENITEZ has raised the stakes in his Anfield contract war with a fresh threat to quit Liverpool.

The Kop boss is at breaking point over the club’s refusal to give in to his demands.

 

He was handed a new draft of his four-year contract in midweek — but stunned the club’s owners by turning it down for the FIFTH time. Co-owner Tom Hicks was sure he had made enough concessions to end the three- month stalemate and expected to agree a deal ahead of today’s visit of Manchester City.

 

 

Challenge

But in another challenge to the club’s board, Benitez insists he has no intention of committing to the club unless they agree to more radical changes. He has been firing off angry e-mails across the Atlantic, accusing his bosses of refusing to back him.

 

Benitez has now boxed himself into a corner, claiming he can’t continue under the current structure at the club. Hicks has been sympathetic to Benitez in the past but he doesn’t have the power or will to meet all his manager’s demands.

 

It is now understood even Hicks is bemused by the stubborn refusal of Benitez to sign the £16m contract. Hicks’ negotiating team have been working overtime to frame a deal which underlines Benitez’s control of transfer policy, while ensuring a degree of accountability to his board remains intact.

 

 

Demanding

But the Liverpool manager says Hicks hasn’t gone far enough and now appears to be demanding the complete marginalisation of chief executive Rick Parry and co-owner George Gillett Jr.

 

Even Hicks can’t promise that unless Liverpool is sold, which is unlikely until the end of the season. Now there are suspicions Benitez is deliberately stalling amid fresh interest from this week’s Champions League opponents Real Madrid. They’re likely to come knocking again in the summer, having been rebuffed before Christmas.

 

Benitez insists he does want to extend his stay on Merseyside but he’s told friends he won’t sign without a major shake-up at Anfield. He’s now risking Hicks pulling the plug on talks until the summer.

[gns]

Although Guilleme says we shouldnt worry.......

 

No crisis over Benitez contract

 

Following the press conference last Friday, I have the impression Rafa Benitez left enough ambiguous statements for people to take advantage....

 

Matters involving his contract are moving on and almost everything is agreed.

 

http://www.guillembalague.com/rumores_desp...ract&id=174

[Raj]

But the Liverpool manager says Hicks hasn’t gone far enough and now appears to be demanding the complete marginalisation of chief executive Rick Parry and co-owner George Gillett Jr.

 

 

Bascombe classic.

[stressederic]

I could develop a dislike of Bascombe

[Andy @ Allerton]

Makes me laugh that in the dim and distant past some people (not me) thought Bascombe was a decent journalist.

[ali]

he's banned from Melwood isn't he, about a fornight ago or so, I read elsewhere

Edited February 22, 2009 by ali

[Stevie H]

it's under a big dramatic banner on the news of the world website which says 'MELTDOWN'.

[Swagger]

I could develop a dislike of Bascombe

 

I am way past that.

[McBain]

Same story in almost every paper

[floyd]

Same story in almost every paper

Yep, slight snippet in the Sunday Express, but their coverage mainly consists of Mourinhio, Man Utd v Inter, Arsenal v Roma, and Chelsea v Juve. Nowhere over 4 pages does it mention Liverpool v Real Madrid, or even any build up to our game against City. Even West Brom and Wigan get a write up.

Rant over

[Chili Palmer]

Don't know how true the reports are but I just wish he'd sign the bleedin' thing.

[Anfield Fox]

I wouldn't dismiss it. At Valencia, Rafa had made them into one of the best teams in Europe, won the Spanish league twice in 3 years as well as the UEFA Cup and by all accounts, the CL was next. However he wasn't happy with the interference from the board and things behind the scenes and so quit. He joined a stable club with a reputation for being one of the last "family" clubs where things were done properly and where the fans and board would always back the manager. Now almost 5 years later, things here behind the scenes are much worse than they ever were at Valencia. The club is a shambles off the pitch, he's trying to fix it but they won't let him. There might just come a point where he thinks it's more trouble than it's worth.

[£440,000]

Can't see Madrid being interested at the moment. Ramos is excelling there at the moment. They'd be insane to get rid at the end of the season if he keeps this up.

[floyd]

Can't see Madrid being interested at the moment. Ramos is excelling there at the moment. They'd be insane to get rid at the end of the season if he keeps this up.

and since when is "Insane" and "Real Madrid" not used in a sentance, that is factually correct?

[budgie]

f***ing morons on the sunday supplement discussing it at the moment. they haven't a clue.

 

Why the f*** is a scumbag from that rag giving his opinion?

Edited February 22, 2009 by budgie

[Stevie H]

is bascombe still rick parry's go-to guy in the media? safe to assume that it's parry feeding him this stuff?

[Jiggy Hates Jazz]

f***ing morons on the sunday supplement discussing it at the moment. they haven't a clue.

 

Why the f*** is a scumbag from that rag giving his opinion?

 

What a bunch of t***s:

 

"He's had 5 attempts at the Premier league and had just as much money as Ferguson"

[floyd]

Why the f*** is a scumbag from that rag giving his opinion?

Ian McGarry, exactly my sentiments. Go on and no mention these two fvckers wont be in place next season. And that over journnalist, Richardson? that thing on his head, has to be a syrup

Edited February 22, 2009 by floyd

[Jiggy Hates Jazz]

Or

 

"Ramos started this season trying to get the sack cos he didn't fancy it here!"

[budgie]

Ian McGarry, exactly my sentiments. Go on and no mention these two fvckers wont be in place next season. And that over journnalist, Richardson? that thing on his head, has to be a syrup

 

 

He's pretty wierd alright.

 

I had to switch it off. Was annoying me too much.

 

Watching lfctv instead.

[Rimbeux]

What a bunch of t***s:

 

"He's had 5 attempts at the Premier league and had just as much money as Ferguson"

 

That bit was certainly true in terms of just transfer spend about 18 months ago, it was done to near death on here, conclusion being same transfer budget, worse starting point.

 

 

Anyway this saga is hugely worrying

[Stevie H]

Anyway this saga is hugely worrying

i'm beginning to become more and more convinced that he's going to walk in the summer.

[Jiggy Hates Jazz]

That bit was certainly true in terms of just transfer spend about 18 months ago, it was done to near death on here, conclusion being same transfer budget, worse starting point.

Anyway this saga is hugely worrying

 

Agree (and it has been done to death) but Ferguson already had a title-winning squad - we didn't have a guaranteed CL squad

[Chili Palmer]

i'm beginning to become more and more convinced that he's going to walk in the summer.

 

 

me too, I also have this horrible feeling the he wants to go and might be using the trouble behind the scenes to make it happen. hope I'm wrong.

[Stevie H]

me too, I also have this horrible feeling the he wants to go and might be using the trouble behind the scenes to make it happen. hope I'm wrong.

well the one would beget the other surely? i see it being more a case of him just having had enough of having to fight with not only opponents but also with those who are supposed to be on his side. if he's effectively forced out by the owners and parry it'll be unforgiveable.