Rafa holds Clear the air talks with Owners

[Nicey]

Was on BBC World news ticker ...

Has there been any meetings ?

[homer1]

Benitez holds talks with owners

Benitez seeks talks with Anfield board
Rafael Benitez held discussions with Liverpool owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks on Sunday after more revelations about an approach for Jurgen Klinsmann.

Benitez exchanged emails with Hicks and Gillett in an attempt to get to the bottom of the issue.

Hicks had earlier claimed Gillett and chief executive Rick Parry interviewed Klinsmann last year about succeeding Benitez as manager.

It was originally thought only Hicks talked with the former Germany coach.

However, reports claim Parry also attended the meeting in New York - but only after after being told to so by the American co-owners.

The chief executive is understood to have had serious misgivings about the meeting and its potential effect on the club if news of it leaked out.

Parry said on Monday: "I am more than happy to sit down and talk to Rafa about this."

After Liverpool's 3-1 win over Blackburn, Benitez appeared furious at media reports about Parry's role.

"I will talk with the board about this as soon as possible," he said . "I am really calm - but I want answers.

"I am surprised at things I have read. I want to clarify the situation, not just about the meeting but the people who were in that meeting.

"I will ask some questions; I will talk about things with them. That means as soon as possible - days, maybe hours."

606: DEBATE
They all claim to be the innocent party, but are any of them?

LR

Benitez's future was the source of constant speculation prior to Christmas as the Reds struggled in the league and looked unlikely to qualify for the Champions League knockout stage.

In January Hicks admitted he had held talks with Klinsmann in November.

The American said the talks were an insurance policy in case Benitez was to leave or the relationship between owners and manager suffered a further break down.

But Hicks added that the relationship between boss and board had been mended.

Since then Benitez has steered the club to the semi-finals of the Champions League.

But the club's off-the-field problems have spiralled almost out of control, with Hicks and Gillett not even on speaking terms.

The internal wrangling between Hicks and Gillett took a fresh twist on Thursday when Hicks demanded the resignation of Parry.

Benitez insists off-field problems are not proving too distracting.

"It is not affecting the players," said the Spaniard. "They are winning and they know we must finish in the top four and progress in the Champions League. We must stay focused on football."

[rage]

benitez should concentrate on coaching his team. Getting drawn into the **** at the boardroom is not a good idea.

[Tee]

benitez should concentrate on coaching his team. Getting drawn into the **** at the boardroom is not a good idea.

He has no choice when the *******s are carving him up behind his back.

[rage]

He has no choice when the *******s are carving him up behind his back.

really? it doesn't matter who spoke with klingsman or not imo. Rafa knows the conversation took place and thats the end of it.

The last thing i want to see is the growth of the perception that its hicks and rafa vs parry. hicks is doing this on purpose imo.

the best thing rafa can do is to concentrate on beating chelsea and not get involved in what is becoming an embarrassing playground type fight. this is a diversionary tactic and rafa should not get involved in taking sides.

[saveferris]

I think the newspapers are going with the Klinsmann meeting angle.

Rafa said he was surprised about what he read in the press, wasnt the story about showing Klinsmann transfer targets also in the press, on the same day? That should have worried him more I feel as that directly affects his job.

[Skillz]

really? it doesn't matter who spoke with klingsman or not imo. Rafa knows the conversation took place and thats the end of it.

The last thing i want to see is the growth of the perception that its hicks and rafa vs parry. hicks is doing this on purpose imo.

the best thing rafa can do is to concentrate on beating chelsea and not get involved in what is becoming an embarrassing playground type fight. this is a diversionary tactic and rafa should not get involved in taking sides.

No offense but Rafa needs to negotiate to bring in talent to the club. This is done about...erm...now. Put yourself in the position of a star player thinking about a big move to a big club.

Take the red blinkers off and tell me how attractive we are right now

[Vermilion]

This is all Rafa needs to know.

reports claim Parry also attended the meeting in New York - but only after being told to do so by the American co-owners.


The chief executive is understood to have had serious misgivings about the meeting and its potential effect on the club if news of it leaked out.

[rage]

No offense but Rafa needs to negotiate to bring in talent to the club. This is done about...erm...now. Put yourself in the position of a star player thinking about a big move to a big club.

Take the red blinkers off and tell me how attractive we are right now

that i agree with.

asking for clarification on who met or didn't meet klinsman is not something he should get involved in.

[Skillz]

that i agree with.

asking for clarification on who met or didn't meet klinsman is not something he should get involved in.

At this point in time all I know is he wants answers. What the questions are I have no idea other than those put forward by the media.

However if Rafa wants to ask questions he has my blessing. He is the only one I trust to have the clubs best interests at heart. Even better he is the only one I trust to perform when push comes to shove.

[rage]

At this point in time all I know is he wants answers. What the questions are I have no idea other than those put forward by the media.

However if Rafa wants to ask questions he has my blessing. He is the only one I trust to have the clubs best interests at heart. Even better he is the only one I trust to perform when push comes to shove.

[el matador]

Hicks seems to be trying to raise his profile in the media without thinking about how damaging this has been for the club. Lets face it - no one knew who he was when he first came over but he is certainly infamous now.

Maybe he likes that, maybe he's using this global attention as a future platform in US politics. It wouldnt surprise me because nothing gets worldwide attention than being the owner of one of the world's greatest football teams. The free column inches devoted to this saga must be worth hundreds of millions in PR.

The attention is negative but at least he's getting it.

To be honest I think we need to be rid of the whole bloody lot of them. Hicks and his pal gillett should go, moores should go for selling the club to them, parry should go because he is crap at his job. Everything hicks said about parry is true - he is incompetent.

We need a fresh start.

[scouse lad]

This is all Rafa needs to know.

reports claim Parry also attended the meeting in New York - but only after being told to do so by the American co-owners.


The chief executive is understood to have had serious misgivings about the meeting and its potential effect on the club if news of it leaked out.

Parry was there the same as Gerrard is sometimes playing on the Right of Midfield, becuase he was following instructions from his boss, doesnt mean to say he wanted to be there.

[El Jefecito]

Parry was there the same as Gerrard is sometimes playing on the Right of Midfield, becuase he was following instructions from his boss, doesnt mean to say he wanted to be there.

But if he lied about it and told Rafa a pack of BS. Then he needs to know. He needs to work out whether he is wasting his time here or not.

[SB]

But if he lied about it and told Rafa a pack of BS. Then he needs to know. He needs to work out whether he is wasting his time here or not.

Is the correct answer IMO.

If Parry was forced to be there he needed to state that up front with Rafa when confronted about it and no harm done. Different situation though if he then covers his arse and lies about it.



Originally Posted by rage
that i agree with.

asking for clarification on who met or didn't meet klinsman is not something he should get involved in.

Do you let people get away with lying to you or do you ask them for an explanation? Rafa has every right to be ticked off with Parry IMO.