LIVERPOOL SACK DALGLISH

KENNY DALGLISH has been sacked by Liverpool after just 16 months in charge.

The Scot’s contract was terminated after he flew to the United States to present his end-of-season review to principal owner John Henry and Tom Werner.
Despite Dalglish leading the Reds to Carling Cup glory and to the FA Cup final where they lost to Chelsea, it was their dismal Premier League form which ultimately led to his downfall.
An eighth-place finish was way below what is expected from a club that needs Champions League football to compete financially with Europe’s big guns.
Liverpool ended the season with 52 points — their lowest ever total in the Premier League — and finished below Merseyside rivals Everton.
The Anfield side also recorded their fewest number of wins in a top-flight season — 14 — since 1953-54 and scored their fewest top flight goals in a season — 47 — since 1991-92.
Henry and Werner were also not happy with the way Dalglish handled the Luis Suarez affair or his surly appearances in front of the media.
Dalglish said: “It has been an honour and a privilege to have had the chance to come back to Liverpool Football Club as manager.
“I greatly appreciate the work that Steve, Kevin, the players and all of the staff put in during my time and feel proud that we delivered the club’s first trophy in six years winning the Carling Cup and came close to a second trophy in the FA Cup final.
“Of course I am disappointed with results in the league, but I would not have swapped the Carling Cup win for anything as I know how much it meant to our fans and the club to be back winning trophies.
“Whilst I am obviously disappointed to be leaving the football club, I can say that the matter has been handled by the owners and all concerned in an honourable, respectful and dignified way and reflects on the quality of the people involved and their continued desire to move the football club forward in the same way as when they arrived here.
“I would like to thank all of the staff at the club for their effort and loyalty.
“I said when first approached about coming back as manager that I would always be of help if I can at any time and that offer remains the same.
“Finally, I want to put on record my heartfelt gratitude to Liverpool’s fans, who have always given me and the club their unwavering support.
“Without them neither the club nor I would have achieved anything.”
SunSport understands Dalglish was not prepared to accept an upstairs role at Anfield, forcing the owners hands and leading to his exit.
Dalglish took over from current England boss Roy Hodgson in January 2011 and the Reds confirmed their search for his successor is already underway.
Henry said: “Kenny will always be more than a championship winning manager, more than a championship winning star player.
“He is in many ways the heart and soul of the club. He personifies everything that is good about Liverpool Football Club.
“He has always put the club and its supporters first. Kenny will always be a part of the family at Anfield.
“Our job now is to identify and recruit the right person to take this club forward and build on the strong foundations put in place during the last 18 months.”
Werner added: “Kenny came into the club as manager at our request at a time when Liverpool Football Club really needed him.
“He didn’t ask to be manager — he was asked to assume the role. He did so because he knew the club needed him.
“He did more than anyone else to stabilise Liverpool over the past year-and-a-half and to get us once again looking forward. We owe him a great debt of gratitude.
“However, results in the Premier League have been disappointing and we believe to build on the progress that has already been made, we need to make a change.
“We are committed to delivering success for our supporters and our ambition remains resolute to return this great club to the elite of England and Europe, where it belongs.”
Kenny Dalglish’s departure brings to an end his second spell at the club where, as a player, he won numerous honours, including six English league titles and three European Cup trophies.
As manager he won three league titles, two FA Cups and this season’s Carling Cup.
/the sun