Fans' fury as Martinez emerges as front runner for vacant Liverpool job
By JOE BERNSTEIN
PUBLISHED: 16:01 EST, 19 May 2012 | UPDATED: 16:01 EST, 19 May 2012
Liverpool fans have rounded on the club's decision-makers for considering Wigan's Roberto Martinez as a managerial successor to Kenny Dalglish.
Supporters abused managing director Ian Ayre at a race meeting at Aintree on Friday night and chanted the name of previous Anfield boss Rafael Benitez.
The general response from the club's followers to the prospect of Martinez being appointed has been underwhelming, and that is a concern after Roy Hodgson's ill-fated time at Anfield.
Unpopular choice; Liverpool fans have made their displeasure over Roberto Martinez known
Liverpool fans never accepted Hodgson and his reign was the shortest in the club's history, lasting just 31 games.
The club have been widely criticised for their scattergun approach to replacing the sacked Dalglish.
Anfield owner John W Henry insists they will appoint a young up-and-coming manager to replace the Scot, fired on Wednesday despite reaching two cup finals this season.
That means Martinez, Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers, former Chelsea boss Andre Villas- Boas and Dane Michael Laudrup could be in, but Benitez and former England manager Fabio Capello are out.
Out: Former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is unlikely to return to Anfield
Liverpool would have to pay Wigan only £1million compensation for 38-year-old Martinez, who had renegotiated his contract last summer after turning down Aston Villa.
Villas-Boas, sacked by Chelsea in March, is free to take the job. Spaniard Martinez, also coveted by Villa again, has still not spoken formally to Liverpool but is believed to be keen on starting a new challenge after saving Wigan from relegation with seven wins in the club's last nine games.
He relationship with Dave Whelan was one of the closest chairman-manager bonds in the league but it became strained when the owner questioned his manager's team selection following a home defeat by Swansea in early March.
Liverpool have been rattled by the fans' reaction to Martinez.
They have been left open to ridicule for failing to make a quick appointment after Dalglish was sacked in Boston during a review with his bosses into a Premier League season in which the club finished eighth, 37 points behind champions Manchester City.
By discussing so many possible managers, the club have risked alienating candidates unhappy with having to take part in a 'beauty parade' and risking returning to their current clubs having failed to land the job.
Swansea boss Rodgers has said he does not want to take part in the process and Jurgen Klopp, manager of Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund, has also made himself unavailable.
Out: Brendan Rodgers has ruled himself out for the Liverpool job
Having felt Dalglish's approach was old-fashioned, the Anfield hierarchy do not view Capello as a serious contender given his difficulties getting the best out of England players at the last World Cup.
Benitez, who took Liverpool to Champions League finals in 2005 and 2007, is hurt he is not being considered given the lack of experience among the other candidates but Henry does not want a manager who is almost a cult figure among the fans, as Dalglish was.
With Henry and chairman Tom Werner in America, under-fire Ayre has had to bear the brunt of the fans' frustrations.
Possible: Marseille coach Didier Deschamps may be a contender for the vacant post
Liverpool have no manager, chief executive or head of sports science, while director of communications Ian Cotton has been replaced by American Jen Chang, who has no experience in football.
They hope, however, to announce a ground naming deal soon to give their next manager much-needed funds in the market.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz1vP8ZvEfD
PUBLISHED: 16:01 EST, 19 May 2012 | UPDATED: 16:01 EST, 19 May 2012
Liverpool fans have rounded on the club's decision-makers for considering Wigan's Roberto Martinez as a managerial successor to Kenny Dalglish.
Supporters abused managing director Ian Ayre at a race meeting at Aintree on Friday night and chanted the name of previous Anfield boss Rafael Benitez.
The general response from the club's followers to the prospect of Martinez being appointed has been underwhelming, and that is a concern after Roy Hodgson's ill-fated time at Anfield.
Unpopular choice; Liverpool fans have made their displeasure over Roberto Martinez known
Liverpool fans never accepted Hodgson and his reign was the shortest in the club's history, lasting just 31 games.
The club have been widely criticised for their scattergun approach to replacing the sacked Dalglish.
Anfield owner John W Henry insists they will appoint a young up-and-coming manager to replace the Scot, fired on Wednesday despite reaching two cup finals this season.
That means Martinez, Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers, former Chelsea boss Andre Villas- Boas and Dane Michael Laudrup could be in, but Benitez and former England manager Fabio Capello are out.
Out: Former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is unlikely to return to Anfield
Liverpool would have to pay Wigan only £1million compensation for 38-year-old Martinez, who had renegotiated his contract last summer after turning down Aston Villa.
Villas-Boas, sacked by Chelsea in March, is free to take the job. Spaniard Martinez, also coveted by Villa again, has still not spoken formally to Liverpool but is believed to be keen on starting a new challenge after saving Wigan from relegation with seven wins in the club's last nine games.
He relationship with Dave Whelan was one of the closest chairman-manager bonds in the league but it became strained when the owner questioned his manager's team selection following a home defeat by Swansea in early March.
Liverpool have been rattled by the fans' reaction to Martinez.
They have been left open to ridicule for failing to make a quick appointment after Dalglish was sacked in Boston during a review with his bosses into a Premier League season in which the club finished eighth, 37 points behind champions Manchester City.
By discussing so many possible managers, the club have risked alienating candidates unhappy with having to take part in a 'beauty parade' and risking returning to their current clubs having failed to land the job.
Swansea boss Rodgers has said he does not want to take part in the process and Jurgen Klopp, manager of Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund, has also made himself unavailable.
Out: Brendan Rodgers has ruled himself out for the Liverpool job
Having felt Dalglish's approach was old-fashioned, the Anfield hierarchy do not view Capello as a serious contender given his difficulties getting the best out of England players at the last World Cup.
Benitez, who took Liverpool to Champions League finals in 2005 and 2007, is hurt he is not being considered given the lack of experience among the other candidates but Henry does not want a manager who is almost a cult figure among the fans, as Dalglish was.
With Henry and chairman Tom Werner in America, under-fire Ayre has had to bear the brunt of the fans' frustrations.
Possible: Marseille coach Didier Deschamps may be a contender for the vacant post
Liverpool have no manager, chief executive or head of sports science, while director of communications Ian Cotton has been replaced by American Jen Chang, who has no experience in football.
They hope, however, to announce a ground naming deal soon to give their next manager much-needed funds in the market.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz1vP8ZvEfD
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