Liverpool FC Forum

[Ola Mr Benitez]

Tom, the news this morning that Damien Comolli is leaving the club will have come as a surprise to many fans. Can you explain why the decision was taken?

I think it's fair to say no supporter would be delighted with the results we've achieved this year. We feel we are a club that needs to be perceived as the strongest club in football and we want to get there. Frankly, we make these decisions with a great deal of care because it's our track record in Boston to give people authority and we've had great success with our manager, who was there for eight years, and our general manager, so we prefer stability. But when it's time to act, we need to act. We're coming close to the end of the season and the transfer window for the summer, and we felt it was important to make this change expeditiously.

In light of Damien's departure, do you still think there is a need for a director of football at this club?

We're still confident the structure we've discussed is the right structure. That doesn't mean we won't look at tweaking it, but we feel a collective group of people making football decisions is healthy. The debate is healthy. Part of the reason we made this decision now is because we want to start the process of finding an excellent replacement.

Do you have a candidate in mind for the role?

We don't have any specific candidates in mind. Part of the reason we made this decision yesterday was to be in the best possible position to move forward as quickly as possible.

Is Damien's departure a reflection that the ownership group were unhappy with the return on player investment?

I would say we certainly have the resources to compete with anybody in football. I wouldn't want to get specific about any particular decision that's been made. We feel there is enough talent on the pitch to win and, as I said, we've been dissatisfied, as most supporters have been, with the results so far. But we're also talking about the future - we have a strategy we need implemented and we felt Damien was probably not the right person to implement that strategy.

Does Damien Comolli's departure have any impact upon Kenny Dalglish's position as manager?

Absolutely not. We've got great confidence in Kenny. We feel the team is going to make strides in the future and he enjoys our full support.

Do you envisage any other changes in the senior management of the club?

We do not. It's a good question. We believe the senior management is very strong, Ian Ayre is an outstanding managing director. His charge is to raise revenue so that we can put the resources into strengthening our football club. We've got great confidence in the other people in football operations, and so the answer is there will be no future changes of significance.

In terms of transfer activity this summer, will Damien's departure affect plans that are already underway?

We've had a strategy that we have agreed on. There was some disconnect on the implementation of that. That strategy is a strong one and it will continue. We need to build a strong system under the first team. We're hard at work identifying transfer targets and we will be better next year.

Finally, as chairman of Liverpool Football Club, do you have a message for the supporters ahead of the very important game on Saturday?

We're all excited about this match. We certainly feel the team is healthy and the team is committed. We just attended a practice where they are excited about returning to Wembley. There's only one team in England that has the possibility of winning this cup and the Carling Cup, and I think our supporters around the world should feel very confident.

[metalhead]

Great to see our owners giving a vote of confidence to both Kenny and Ayre

Let's hope the changes made will make us better next season

[Kukilon]

Seems like Kenny is safe for the time being.

[RED BEERGOGGLES]

Tom, the news this morning that Damien Comolli is leaving the club will have come as a surprise to many fans. Can you explain why the decision was taken?

I think it's fair to say no supporter would be delighted with the results we've achieved this year. We feel we are a club that needs to be perceived as the strongest club in football and we want to get there. Frankly, we make these decisions with a great deal of care because it's our track record in Boston to give people authority and we've had great success with our manager, who was there for eight years, and our general manager, so we prefer stability. But when it's time to act, we need to act. We're coming close to the end of the season and the transfer window for the summer, and we felt it was important to make this change expeditiously.

In light of Damien's departure, do you still think there is a need for a director of football at this club?

We're still confident the structure we've discussed is the right structure. That doesn't mean we won't look at tweaking it, but we feel a collective group of people making football decisions is healthy. The debate is healthy. Part of the reason we made this decision now is because we want to start the process of finding an excellent replacement.

Do you have a candidate in mind for the role?

We don't have any specific candidates in mind. Part of the reason we made this decision yesterday was to be in the best possible position to move forward as quickly as possible.

Is Damien's departure a reflection that the ownership group were unhappy with the return on player investment?

I would say we certainly have the resources to compete with anybody in football. I wouldn't want to get specific about any particular decision that's been made. We feel there is enough talent on the pitch to win and, as I said, we've been dissatisfied, as most supporters have been, with the results so far. But we're also talking about the future - we have a strategy we need implemented and we felt Damien was probably not the right person to implement that strategy.

Does Damien Comolli's departure have any impact upon Kenny Dalglish's position as manager?

Absolutely not. We've got great confidence in Kenny. We feel the team is going to make strides in the future and he enjoys our full support.

Do you envisage any other changes in the senior management of the club?

We do not. It's a good question. We believe the senior management is very strong, Ian Ayre is an outstanding managing director. His charge is to raise revenue so that we can put the resources into strengthening our football club. We've got great confidence in the other people in football operations, and so the answer is there will be no future changes of significance.

In terms of transfer activity this summer, will Damien's departure affect plans that are already underway?

We've had a strategy that we have agreed on. There was some disconnect on the implementation of that. That strategy is a strong one and it will continue. We need to build a strong system under the first team. We're hard at work identifying transfer targets and we will be better next year.

Finally, as chairman of Liverpool Football Club, do you have a message for the supporters ahead of the very important game on Saturday?

We're all excited about this match. We certainly feel the team is healthy and the team is committed. We just attended a practice where they are excited about returning to Wembley. There's only one team in England that has the possibility of winning this cup and the Carling Cup, and I think our supporters around the world should feel very confident.

Delighted with this ,not that I was ever in doubt of the owners intelligence .

[red_guy]

I guess this ends the 'will Kenny go or won't he' speculations. It's about time for us to give full support to the manager,team etc ahead of the semi-final. No more quarrel. YNWA!

P.s: envy u lucky ***** who's going to Wembley this saturday. I'll be watching from the same spot as usual, in front of the telly.

[andy_g]

uh oh... kenny has received the dreaded vote of confidence. he's as good as gone....

[mart]

Tom Werner, one of Liverpool's new co-owners, has said that the club's manager, Roy Hodgson, is safe in his job and will be given transfer funds.

[RED BEERGOGGLES]

Tom Werner, one of Liverpool's new co-owners, has said that the club's manager, Roy Hodgson, is safe in his job and will be given transfer funds.

Although I'm quite loathe to perforate this particular bubble you have chosen to blow .I must point out Hodgson lost the support of the fans
and fared dismally in building any affinity with said support  let alone a semblance of rapport ,something Dalglish will never be bereft of 

[parchpea]

Interesting to see how the players involved in the whole debacle react after todays
events seeing as their performances have been at the root of the cull.

Somehow I dont see it will matter with Fenways pretty much almost made up, but I get
the impression the rest of the management team have been given the chance of redemption
by impressing them in the FA Cup and remaining league games out of respect.

These matches now take on greater significance in terms of influencing the clubs direction
and who will be chosen to take us forward next season.

[red till i die!!]

sounds encouraging from werner and shows that they are ambitious.
maybe this was the shake up needed and it sets out a statement to all involved with the club.

[Boxscarf]

Although I'm quite loathe to perforate this particular bubble you have chosen to blow .I must point out Hodgson lost the support of the fans
and fared dismally in building any affinity with said support  let alone a semblance of rapport ,something Dalglish will never be bereft of 

FSG aren't going to play to the tune of the supporters, if Dalglish isn't getting the results he'll go just like Hodgson, just like Comolli. He's got the vote of confidence from Tom Werner, so far he's okay, but as Mart rightly pointed out, Hodgson received the vote of confidence and shortly afterwards he was dismissed.

I think Kenny needs to get us past Everton into the final (winning the final, of course) and needs a strong finish in the league to secure his position as manager next season, even then I wouldn't be surprised if FSG still opted for a new manager for next season. You never know what's around the corner, I certainly didn't see Comolli leaving, so never count your eggs before they've hatched. As much as I want Kenny as our manager next season, I know that he might not be our manager next season.

[Boxscarf]

sounds encouraging from werner and shows that they are ambitious.
maybe this was the shake up needed and it sets out a statement to all involved with the club.

It will be interested to see what happens to Adam, Downing and Henderson in the summer, I can see two of the three leaving for pastures new.

[eds]

Tom, the news this morning that Damien Comolli is leaving the club will have come as a surprise to many fans. Can you explain why the decision was taken?

I think it's fair to say no supporter would be delighted with the results we've achieved this year. We feel we are a club that needs to be perceived as the strongest club in football and we want to get there. Frankly, we make these decisions with a great deal of care because it's our track record in Boston to give people authority and we've had great success with our manager, who was there for eight years, and our general manager, so we prefer stability. But when it's time to act, we need to act. We're coming close to the end of the season and the transfer window for the summer, and we felt it was important to make this change expeditiously.

In light of Damien's departure, do you still think there is a need for a director of football at this club?

We're still confident the structure we've discussed is the right structure. That doesn't mean we won't look at tweaking it, but we feel a collective group of people making football decisions is healthy. The debate is healthy. Part of the reason we made this decision now is because we want to start the process of finding an excellent replacement.

Do you have a candidate in mind for the role?

We don't have any specific candidates in mind. Part of the reason we made this decision yesterday was to be in the best possible position to move forward as quickly as possible.

Is Damien's departure a reflection that the ownership group were unhappy with the return on player investment?

I would say we certainly have the resources to compete with anybody in football. I wouldn't want to get specific about any particular decision that's been made. We feel there is enough talent on the pitch to win and, as I said, we've been dissatisfied, as most supporters have been, with the results so far. But we're also talking about the future - we have a strategy we need implemented and we felt Damien was probably not the right person to implement that strategy.

Does Damien Comolli's departure have any impact upon Kenny Dalglish's position as manager?

Absolutely not. We've got great confidence in Kenny. We feel the team is going to make strides in the future and he enjoys our full support.

Do you envisage any other changes in the senior management of the club?

We do not. It's a good question. We believe the senior management is very strong, Ian Ayre is an outstanding managing director. His charge is to raise revenue so that we can put the resources into strengthening our football club. We've got great confidence in the other people in football operations, and so the answer is there will be no future changes of significance.

In terms of transfer activity this summer, will Damien's departure affect plans that are already underway?

We've had a strategy that we have agreed on. There was some disconnect on the implementation of that. That strategy is a strong one and it will continue. We need to build a strong system under the first team. We're hard at work identifying transfer targets and we will be better next year.

Finally, as chairman of Liverpool Football Club, do you have a message for the supporters ahead of the very important game on Saturday?

We're all excited about this match. We certainly feel the team is healthy and the team is committed. We just attended a practice where they are excited about returning to Wembley. There's only one team in England that has the possibility of winning this cup and the Carling Cup, and I think our supporters around the world should feel very confident.

Really liked this comment. It puts all those little lemmings crying about how we can't compete with the top sides in their boxes. The aim clearly this year was to deliver 4th and provide a platform to challenge for the title in years to come, hence the spend. Comolli's removal is a signal of things to come, poor results and even poorer excuses aren't f**king acceptable. The owners seem to be committed to success and reversing the fortune of our club recently, regardless of what the numpties that are happy with being 8th in the league think about.

[alwayslfc]

Kenny's s.hit signings last summer will cost him his job. Werner and Henry, when they talk about the club in front of the cameras, what they say are not a reflection of their minds. Of course they will say Kenny's job is safe 2 days before the semifinal. Comolli was probably responsible for the huge amount we paid for those garbage, but it was Kenny who wanted those rubbish. FSG sacked their Boston R.Sox manager after a run of awful results and lost the world series, a bit like our current miserable league form at the moment despite him winning 2 world series. So what makes us think they will not give Kenny the same treatment? Personally, I don't blame them if they do decide to get rid of Kenny.

[mart]

Tom Werner, one of Liverpool's new co-owners, has said that the club's manager, Roy Hodgson, is safe in his job and will be given transfer funds.

Although I'm quite loathe to perforate this particular bubble you have chosen to blow .I must point out Hodgson lost the support of the fans
and fared dismally in building any affinity with said support  let alone a semblance of rapport ,something Dalglish will never be bereft of 

The point of that link is just to show an example of what owners will always say right up until the moment a manager gets sacked. Statements like that doesnt really mean anything.