Comolli Sacked

[Shaggy]

Nick Parrott @NickParrottTV
Word reaching me from the other side of the office is that it might be a little bit longer before the story goes up on

[Daniel 7]

Who is Nick Parrott anyway?

[Shaggy]

Who is Nick Parrott anyway?

Just repeats himself all the time.

[JHP]

Who is Nick Parrott anyway?

A BBC sports journalist

[BobTheCharmer]

Just repeats himself all the time.

[ChesterDave]

Just repeats himself all the time.

Prolific tweeter too.

[BootRoom]

Nick Parrott @NickParrottTV
Word reaching me from the other side of the office is that it might be a little bit longer before the story goes up on

That sounds like it's a long distance telegram or something when in actual fact it's just some mush shouting across the room.

[Shaggy]

Football | Tony Barrett |
Published 1 minute ago

Kenny Dalglish has been told that his job is safe, but the Liverpool manager has been left under no illusions about Fenway Sports Group’s ruthlessness after the club’s owners dismissed Damien Comolli as director of football.

Tom Werner, the Liverpool chairman, having initially claimed that Comolli had left by mutual consent, later admitted that it had been necessary “to make the change expeditiously” because of the American owners’ belief that he “was probably not the right person to implement the strategy” that the club has put in place for future improvement.

Liverpool’s under-performance in the Barclays Premier League this season was cited as one reason for Comolli’s exit by Werner, as was a difference in opinion about the club’s future strategy and the owners’ belief that the Frenchman had failed to derive value for money from his transfer operations. They include the record £35 million signing of Andy Carroll, the striker who has scored only six Premier League goals since joining from Newcastle United in January last year.

FSG was also less than impressed by Liverpool’s response to the Luis Suárez racism crisis and the damage done to the club’s reputation as a result. Given his position, Comolli was always among those under most threat from any fallout.

Having decided that Comolli had to go, FSG did not even allow tomorrow’s FA Cup semi-final against Everton to prevent it from making its move. In an effort to ensure that stability was not jeopardised further ahead of such a crucial game, Werner made it clear that Dalglish’s position as manager is not in question despite FSG’s dissatisfaction with recent results.

“We’ve got great confidence in Kenny,” Werner said. “We feel the team is going to make strides in the future and he enjoys our full support.”

Dalglish insisted that he had no concern over either his own position as manager or the potential for Liverpool’s planning for the semi-final to be disrupted by off-field upheaval. “There are decisions made every week about the running of the football club and it is the owners’ prerogative to make them,” the Liverpool manager said. “We just go along to do the best we can, to get the best result we can for the club. I don’t need any reassurances. We have a big game on Saturday, that’s the focal point for us. Like everything else, we want a positive result and the best way to get that is to be fully focused on the match.

“The reasons Damien has gone are there. But he’s not gone because there was a problem in any way shape or form with myself in a professional or personal relationship. There was no problem with the position he held at the football club as far as I am concerned. It is unfortunate the guy has lost his job, that’s not pleasant for anyone. But it will not affect the preparation for the semi-final and neither would Damien want it to.”

Comolli, 39, was left “stunned and devastated” by his sudden departure, according to friends. He insisted that he had been taken totally by surprise at FSG’s decision to dispense with his services 18 months after appointing him.

He was informed late on Tuesday at a meeting with Werner and his fellow principal owner, John W. Henry. News of his departure was then passed on to the Liverpool players at a hastily arranged meeting at the Melwood training ground yesterday morning.

By then, FSG had already determined that it would not deviate from the director of football model despite its acceptance that Comolli was not the right man for the role. A shortlist for his replacement is yet to be drawn up but FSG has been impressed by the work done by Johan Cruyff in a supervisory role with Ajax and Chivas.

Sources in the Netherlands last night indicated that Louis van Gaal, who has been out of work since being sacked as coach of Bayern Munich in April last year, would be interested in the position.

On his last day at Liverpool, Comolli cut a relaxed figure, according to club insiders, and had set up meetings with players’ agents for next week as he looked to step up his search for a goal-scorer and a central defender. He even had lunch with Werner and Henry at Melwood and neither offered any indication of what was to follow that day.

As well as giving their immediate backing to Dalglish, Werner also gave a vote of confidence to Ian Ayre, the managing director. “We believe the senior management is very strong,” Werner said. “Ian Ayre is an outstanding managing director. 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.”

FSG also reached an agreement with Dr Peter Brukner that will see Liverpool’s head of sports medicine and sports science leave the club at the end of the season. His position is expected to be filled by Darren Burgess, the head of fitness and conditioning. The imminent departure of Brukner comes as no surprise as the Australian did not see eye to eye with Dalglish and his influence had waned as a result.

[marcus50bucks]

Owners wield axe Liverpool

Football | Tony Barrett | Published 1 minute ago

Kenny Dalglish has been told that his job is safe, but the Liverpool manager has been left under no illusions about Fenway Sports Group’s ruthlessness after the club’s owners dismissed Damien Comolli as director of football.

Tom Werner, the Liverpool chairman, having initially claimed that Comolli had left by mutual consent, later admitted that it had been necessary “to make the change expeditiously” because of the American owners’ belief that he “was probably not the right person to implement the strategy” that the club has put in place for future improvement.

Liverpool’s under-performance in the Barclays Premier League this season was cited as one reason for Comolli’s exit by Werner, as was a difference in opinion about the club’s future strategy and the owners’ belief that the Frenchman had failed to derive value for money from his transfer operations. They include the record £35 million signing of Andy Carroll, the striker who has scored only six Premier League goals since joining from Newcastle United in January last year.

FSG was also less than impressed by Liverpool’s response to the Luis Suárez racism crisis and the damage done to the club’s reputation as a result. Given his position, Comolli was always among those under most threat from any fallout.

Having decided that Comolli had to go, FSG did not even allow tomorrow’s FA Cup semi-final against Everton to prevent it from making its move. In an effort to ensure that stability was not jeopardised further ahead of such a crucial game, Werner made it clear that Dalglish’s position as manager is not in question despite FSG’s dissatisfaction with recent results.

“We’ve got great confidence in Kenny,” Werner said. “We feel the team is going to make strides in the future and he enjoys our full support.”

Dalglish insisted that he had no concern over either his own position as manager or the potential for Liverpool’s planning for the semi-final to be disrupted by off-field upheaval. “There are decisions made every week about the running of the football club and it is the owners’ prerogative to make them,” the Liverpool manager said. “We just go along to do the best we can, to get the best result we can for the club. I don’t need any reassurances. We have a big game on Saturday, that’s the focal point for us. Like everything else, we want a positive result and the best way to get that is to be fully focused on the match.

“The reasons Damien has gone are there. But he’s not gone because there was a problem in any way shape or form with myself in a professional or personal relationship. There was no problem with the position he held at the football club as far as I am concerned. It is unfortunate the guy has lost his job, that’s not pleasant for anyone. But it will not affect the preparation for the semi-final and neither would Damien want it to.”

Comolli, 39, was left “stunned and devastated” by his sudden departure, according to friends. He insisted that he had been taken totally by surprise at FSG’s decision to dispense with his services 18 months after appointing him.

He was informed late on Tuesday at a meeting with Werner and his fellow principal owner, John W. Henry. News of his departure was then passed on to the Liverpool players at a hastily arranged meeting at the Melwood training ground yesterday morning.

By then, FSG had already determined that it would not deviate from the director of football model despite its acceptance that Comolli was not the right man for the role. A shortlist for his replacement is yet to be drawn up but FSG has been impressed by the work done by Johan Cruyff in a supervisory role with Ajax and Chivas.

Sources in the Netherlands last night indicated that Louis van Gaal, who has been out of work since being sacked as coach of Bayern Munich in April last year, would be interested in the position.

On his last day at Liverpool, Comolli cut a relaxed figure, according to club insiders, and had set up meetings with players’ agents for next week as he looked to step up his search for a goal-scorer and a central defender. He even had lunch with Werner and Henry at Melwood and neither offered any indication of what was to follow that day.

As well as giving their immediate backing to Dalglish, Werner also gave a vote of confidence to Ian Ayre, the managing director. “We believe the senior management is very strong,” Werner said. “Ian Ayre is an outstanding managing director. 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.”

FSG also reached an agreement with Dr Peter Brukner that will see Liverpool’s head of sports medicine and sports science leave the club at the end of the season. His position is expected to be filled by Darren Burgess, the head of fitness and conditioning. The imminent departure of Brukner comes as no surprise as the Australian did not see eye to eye with Dalglish and his influence had waned as a result.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/...cle3382863.ece

[dom9]

What's been going down people? I've just watched Super 8. A bit like a cross between the Goonies and Alien.

[Daniel 7]

Complete charlatan Comolli, seems like he's chanced his way to a fortune. Has he ever left anywhere and someone's gone "He was boss him..."?

[Daniel 7]

What's been going down people? I've just watched Super 8. A bit like a cross between the Goonies and Alien.

I thought it dragged a bit, but the Goonies comparison fits. Maybe a bit ET too.

[Lecter]

Srijandeep Das@jeremy_LFC
Louis Van Gaal and Johan Cruyff are two names FSG are considering for the Director of Football position for #LFC, acc. to The Times.

[CJ]

A dunc (jenkins) exclusive

[Alex]

I thought I was in the entertainment section for a moment there.