Hadn't seen this topic until I was looking at Riera's wedding photos on LFC Globe where underneath it I saw this heading:
Benitez dismisses 16 Backroom Staff
http://lfcglobe.com/benitez-dismisses-16-backroom-staff/#more-2317June 7, 2009 · Discuss
Liverpool are set to face a legal backlash after Rafa Benitez fired sixteen backroom staff.
The club sacked 10 Academy personnel last week and within the past few days, six-other long serving employees have been told to leave.
Liverpool have not given the staff any reasons however, it is believed that Benitez wants to bring in most of his former coaches at Valencia.
A source at Anfield said: “You’ve heard of the night of the long knives. This is more like two weeks of it and it may not be finished yet.
“Rafa wants a clean sweep, but some of the staff won’t go quietly and are taking legal advice. Some of them don’t even feel they’ve been told why they’re going.”
SACKED BACKROOM STAFF:
Gary Ablett - Reserve team manager (2 years)
Piet Hamburg - Academy director (2 years)
Hugh McAuley - Under 18 coach (20 years)
Dave Shannon - Under-16 coach (20 years)
Paul Lever - Under-14 coach (18 years)
Billy Stewart - Academy goalkeeper coach (10 years)
Norman Gard - Players’ liaison officer (15 years)
Tim Divine - Education officer (15 years)
John Wright - Kit man (15 years)
Victor Salinas - Physio (4 years)
Gerard Nus - Sports scientist (2 years)
Angel Vales - Sports scientist (1 year)
Simon Farnworth - Academy physio (10 years)
John Coburn - Academy physio (8 years)
Jan de Koning - Assistant academy director (2 years)
Tim Dittmar - Academy goalkeeper coach (8 years)
For me, that's a lot of change in the off season in one swoop.
Aside form Gary Ablett leaving, the one that stood out for me is The Kit man- John Wright. Not that I know him personally, but got to feel sorry for the man...been doing a job anyone would love to do for 15 years and he has now been given the arse. Wonder what he did wrong?