Jun 2 2007
by Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo
LIVERPOOL are not only searching for a new Academy Director this summer, but Rafa Benitez must find another chief scout following the departure of his lieutenant Frank McParland.
Scouser McParland will end a ten year association with Liverpool when he becomes the General Manager of Bolton Wanderers this July.
It was a decision the former Academy recruitment officer agonised over before recognising that the opportunity to work with pal and former colleague Sammy Lee was too good to turn down.
McParland has been responsible for many of Benitez’s key purchases over the last three years, with Peter Crouch, Daniel Agger and Dirk Kuyt among his most successful recruits.
Before then he worked closely with legendary Academy recruitment officer, the late Jim Aspinall - the man who brought Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman to the club.
McParland’s still working on targets on Benitez’s behalf for the next few weeks and played a crucial role in the signing of the Hungarian teenagers Krisztian Nemeth and Andras Simon.
Leaving Liverpool was not on the agenda until Sam Allardyce’s surprise departure from the Reebok, but now McParland is preparing for a fresh challenge.
“Sammy Lee is probably the only person in football who could have convinced me to leave Liverpool,” said McParland.
“At first I thought I’d be staying, but Sammy was very persuasive and after giving it a lot of thought I decided this was a great chance for me.
“Liverpool is and always will be my club, but when you’re offered such a fantastic opportunity to work alongside a great young manager at a developing club such as Bolton, you have to give it a go.
“I spoke to Rafa about the situation and what was most important to me was he was supportive of my decision. He knows the circumstances are right for me to look for a new challenge in a role which gives me more responsibility.
“Sammy and I have been great mates since the day I first joined Liverpool and I know he’s going to be a top class manager - that also influenced my decision. We’re on the same wavelength when it comes to football.
“Bolton are a fantastic, forward thinking club which has come on leaps and bounds in the last few years, and Sammy has the potential to take the club even further.
“Anyone underestimating him is seriously mistaken. This a guy who’s learned his trade working under the best managers in the business such as Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan, as well as all the modern coaches he’s worked for at Liverpool and with England.
He has all the top qualifications and his own ideas about management. It was only a matter of time before he was handed his opportunity, and it’s an honour for me to be helping him through. It’s going to be an exciting time for us. We’re particularly looking forward to taking the club into the UEFA Cup this season as well as building on our Premiership position.”
McParland’s departure adds to the uncertainty around Anfield as Benitez looks to restructure the club at all levels, but the 48-year-old is certain for as long as the Spanish boss is at the helm, the future can be rosy.
“I can’t speak highly enough of Rafa or thank him enough for everything he’s done for me,” said McParland.
“One of the reasons I feel confident enough to take on a role like this at Bolton is because of what I’ve learned working close to Rafa.
“I’ve learned more from him in three seasons than the rest of my career in football.
“For as long as he’s at Liverpool, the club is in safe hands. I’d also like to thank Rick Parry because it was he who gave me my start at the club.
“He interviewed me for a job at The Academy ten years ago and I’ve been able to move through the ranks from there. I’ll always be grateful for that.”
McParland has been one of the highly rated backroom members who’s shunned the limelight throughout his time at Liverpool, but whose absence will certainly be noted once he’s gone.
Who knows? If Lee and McParland enjoy success at The Reebok, it’s inconceivable the Reds hierarchy won’t notice the impact of two favourite sons born and bred in the finest Anfield tradition.
“I’ve still work to do for Rafa before I leave and there are one or two exciting projects to complete for him before I go to Bolton,” said McParland.
“Then Bolton become my number one priority. I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t still be looking out for every Liverpool result or ringing my friends at the club to see how we’re doing. But now I’m ready for a new challenge in my career and hope to take Bolton as high as possible in the Premiership, as well as have a good crack in Europe.”
by Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo
LIVERPOOL are not only searching for a new Academy Director this summer, but Rafa Benitez must find another chief scout following the departure of his lieutenant Frank McParland.
Scouser McParland will end a ten year association with Liverpool when he becomes the General Manager of Bolton Wanderers this July.
It was a decision the former Academy recruitment officer agonised over before recognising that the opportunity to work with pal and former colleague Sammy Lee was too good to turn down.
McParland has been responsible for many of Benitez’s key purchases over the last three years, with Peter Crouch, Daniel Agger and Dirk Kuyt among his most successful recruits.
Before then he worked closely with legendary Academy recruitment officer, the late Jim Aspinall - the man who brought Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman to the club.
McParland’s still working on targets on Benitez’s behalf for the next few weeks and played a crucial role in the signing of the Hungarian teenagers Krisztian Nemeth and Andras Simon.
Leaving Liverpool was not on the agenda until Sam Allardyce’s surprise departure from the Reebok, but now McParland is preparing for a fresh challenge.
“Sammy Lee is probably the only person in football who could have convinced me to leave Liverpool,” said McParland.
“At first I thought I’d be staying, but Sammy was very persuasive and after giving it a lot of thought I decided this was a great chance for me.
“Liverpool is and always will be my club, but when you’re offered such a fantastic opportunity to work alongside a great young manager at a developing club such as Bolton, you have to give it a go.
“I spoke to Rafa about the situation and what was most important to me was he was supportive of my decision. He knows the circumstances are right for me to look for a new challenge in a role which gives me more responsibility.
“Sammy and I have been great mates since the day I first joined Liverpool and I know he’s going to be a top class manager - that also influenced my decision. We’re on the same wavelength when it comes to football.
“Bolton are a fantastic, forward thinking club which has come on leaps and bounds in the last few years, and Sammy has the potential to take the club even further.
“Anyone underestimating him is seriously mistaken. This a guy who’s learned his trade working under the best managers in the business such as Bob Paisley and Joe Fagan, as well as all the modern coaches he’s worked for at Liverpool and with England.
He has all the top qualifications and his own ideas about management. It was only a matter of time before he was handed his opportunity, and it’s an honour for me to be helping him through. It’s going to be an exciting time for us. We’re particularly looking forward to taking the club into the UEFA Cup this season as well as building on our Premiership position.”
McParland’s departure adds to the uncertainty around Anfield as Benitez looks to restructure the club at all levels, but the 48-year-old is certain for as long as the Spanish boss is at the helm, the future can be rosy.
“I can’t speak highly enough of Rafa or thank him enough for everything he’s done for me,” said McParland.
“One of the reasons I feel confident enough to take on a role like this at Bolton is because of what I’ve learned working close to Rafa.
“I’ve learned more from him in three seasons than the rest of my career in football.
“For as long as he’s at Liverpool, the club is in safe hands. I’d also like to thank Rick Parry because it was he who gave me my start at the club.
“He interviewed me for a job at The Academy ten years ago and I’ve been able to move through the ranks from there. I’ll always be grateful for that.”
McParland has been one of the highly rated backroom members who’s shunned the limelight throughout his time at Liverpool, but whose absence will certainly be noted once he’s gone.
Who knows? If Lee and McParland enjoy success at The Reebok, it’s inconceivable the Reds hierarchy won’t notice the impact of two favourite sons born and bred in the finest Anfield tradition.
“I’ve still work to do for Rafa before I leave and there are one or two exciting projects to complete for him before I go to Bolton,” said McParland.
“Then Bolton become my number one priority. I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t still be looking out for every Liverpool result or ringing my friends at the club to see how we’re doing. But now I’m ready for a new challenge in my career and hope to take Bolton as high as possible in the Premiership, as well as have a good crack in Europe.”
Coop - Respect.
RAFA
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