by greenred » Mon May 31, 2004 1:45 pm
David Plummer
Monday May 31, 2004
The Guardian
Alan Curbishley has not had a "secret meeting" with Liverpool, Rafael Benítez is not on the way to Anfield and Kenny Dalglish can carry on honing his golf game. Liverpool's chief executive Rick Parry claims he has not yet approached anyone to replace Gérard Houllier.
While the press has been parading a queue of candidates for the manager's job - and while Valencia have offered Benítez a new contract and Chelsea have closed in on Jose Mourinho - Parry has been holidaying in the Caribbean. "We can't rush into making the wrong appointment," he told BBC Radio 5 from Barbados.
"We did not want any of the muddying of the waters or the indignity of clandestine talks taking place while Gérard was still around, so we start now. One of the advantages of spending a few days away is that I get a clear head and perhaps a bit of time away from the phone to think it through."
Reports that he had offered Benítez a four-year contract were false, he claimed. Asked if anyone had been "sounded out" for the job, he maintained: "Not at all. It's one step at a time and the process starts now."
He dismissed reports that he had approached Curbishley after Charlton's 1-0 win at Liverpool on April 12. "That is probably the most bizarre story of the week and there have been some pretty bizarre ones," Parry said. "I don't think I saw Alan Curbishley at all that day, apart from looking down at him on the touchline with some dismay."
The Liverpool chief executive is confident he can find a new manager within a month. "We don't have a lot of time on our side but I think within that sort of timescale we will be a few steps along the way," he said.
His first step on his return will be to talk to leading players such as Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard. "I think there will be some dialogue with senior players," he said, "not so much in terms of do you like this individual or that individual, but in terms of what they see being the qualities.
"Keeping them in the picture makes a great deal of sense. Top players like Michael and Steven want more than anything to be winning trophies. But, if Liverpool are trophyless, it is less appealing for them and understandably so."
Parry has yet to get Owen to agree a new contract. "I think Michael wants to stay," he said. "I think he will re-sign."
Parry also spoke of his "sorrow and regret" at sacking Houllier. "We had got that fourth spot and he thought it would be enough and we would give him another go. He wanted to have another go; he desperately wanted to win the league with Liverpool. He was very upset and hurt but took it with enormous good grace."
