Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has spoken of his delight at pinning manager Rafael Benitez down to a new five-year contract and insisted he was "never worried" about his future.
Hicks has, unlike George Gillett, been a staunch supporter of Benitez throughout the troubled times and contract wrangle. And he, like Benitez, was concerned about the role being played by chief executive Rick Parry. Although Parry will leave Anfield in the summer it could be six-nine months before the Reds install a full-time replacement.
While there are as yet no firm plans over the proposed new stadium in Stanley Park, Hicks was adamant the project would eventually come to fruition.
"I was never worried we would lose Rafa Benitez,'' Hicks told Sky Sports News, with the Spanish coach now signed up until 2014. "These things are complicated. A five-year contract is complicated, so I'm just relieved we finally got it done.
"From the supporters' point of view, to have it done on top of such a great week on the pitch is great. We have a chance to catch Manchester United. It's not a great chance, but it's a chance.''
Hicks blamed the media for portraying Liverpool as a club in the middle of an internal war, insisting the situation had been blown out of proportion.
"That was in the media but it was never really true,'' he said. "I sat down with Rafa a couple of months ago and he made it very clear that he knows a manager can't have control over transfer budget.
"He has had his frustrations over the last five years and those are well chronicled but he will make the recommendations about which players we sign and the new CEO, the owners and the board will make the final financial commitment. And that is the way it needs to be.''
More to follow
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=629384&sec=england&cc=4716Meanwhile, Benitez set to tie star players to longer deals.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez will make the long-term future of his star players the number one priority after penning a new contract of his own to run until the summer of 2014.
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Rafa Benitez: Finally signed new contract
Anfield had been in danger of falling into a state of limbo should their manager have been allowed to enter the final year of his deal without an agreement over a renewal, but Wednesday evening's news brought that to a close.
It capped off an amazing seven days for the Meseyside club after they smashed four goals past Real Madrid and Manchester United to make the quarter-finals of the keep alive their hopes of a first League title since 1990.
With Rick Parry departing the club at the end of the season, news which no doubt speeded up the Spaniard's decision to put pen to paper after a long-running power struggle, Benitez should now have full control over player contracts.
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Benitez is expected to move to tie Dirk Kuyt, Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard and goalkeeper Jose Reina to deals which will keep them at the club throughout his tenure.
The boss is also thought to have been promised a competitive transfer kitty for the summer with Liverpool needing to strengthen in all areas is they are to build a squad capable of handling the rigours of a long season.
The 48-year-old will be in the box seat when it comes to transfers, too, after missing out on Aston Villa midfielder Gareth Barry next summer. Benitez feels that he would have been successful in his pursuit of the England international had he organised the negotiations.
Benitez will now be able to plan Liverpool's future in the long term, and said after signing the new deal: "My heart is with Liverpool, so I'm delighted to sign this new deal.
"I love the club, the fans and the city and, with a club like this and supporters like this, I could never say no to staying.
"I always made clear I wanted to be here for a long time and, when I complete my new contract, it will mean I have spent over a decade in Liverpool.
"The club is greatly respected around the world due to its incredible history and tremendous heritage.
"It is my aim to uphold those values and help create a new chapter in our history. Throughout this process, I would like to thank the owners for their hard work in finalising the deal.
"All of us at the club want the same thing, which is to be successful by winning major trophies."
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All in all I feel that all this is getting positive. The owners spat with Rafa really seems to be resolved, they are looking ever likely to work with each other. Whether Hicks is still a c**t, its hard to tell and I don't know, but definitely I feel he is finally starting to uphold the traditions of the club. It's been a long time now that the spat has been in public. Although Hicks admits that the Stanley park project is delayed, but at least now he got the balls not to deny it.
Rafa signed the contract on the basis that he would finally get his wish on transfers and the owners' future. If the owners are looking to make and cash in on a quick buck I dont know its hard to tell. But Rafa sees the effort from the owners and that is why he signed the contract. Although I expect the transfer budget to be quite hefty, and probably the owners also sacked Parry.
To me this season the owners, although still not fully trustable, have made an effort despite their money tightness and that is what I feel is more important. They too got some advice from Randy Lerner, probably the best owner in the EPL.
However we still have to be wary of the owners.
Would love to hear your thoughts and opinions.
