Liverpool

Is Honeymoon Over For Fenway Sports Group With EPL Club Liverpool?

Published May 17, 2012

EPL club Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish lost his job yesterday “because of a poor sequence of Premier League results and performances, particularly since January, leaving Liverpool well short of the top-four ambition set" by team Owner Fenway Sports Group, according to Chris Bascombe of the London TELEGRAPH. Dalglish’s tenure came to an end with an "emotional tribute, duly recognising the Scot’s legendary status and enduring contribution as both player and manager.” FSG will “pursue a young, dynamic manager in tune with the demands of the European game,” and Bascombe notes that given that co-Owner John Henry “made his fortune analysing statistical data, it is no surprise Dalglish’s departure ultimately came down to a numbers game.” Liverpool spent US$190M on seven new players and finished eighth (London TELEGRAPH, 5/17). In N.Y., Jack Bell writes, “Long revered in Liverpool, where he is known as King Kenny, Dalglish was unable to propel Liverpool back toward the top” of the EPL (N.Y. TIMES, 5/17).

MAJOR CHANGES AT LIVERPOOL: The GUARDIAN's Andy Hunter notes recent departures at Liverpool leave the club “without a manager, assistant manager, director of football, head of sports science and head of communications.” Liverpool co-Owner & Chair Tom Werner, however, “insisted FSG had no option but to sack Dalglish.” Werner: “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” (GUARDIAN, 5/17). Hunter also notes 19 months into FSG's ownership of the team, in addition to the personnel changes, there is "still no decision on a new stadium.” FSG “is now free to implement the plans it always envisaged for Anfield," as it "has no more excuses." Meanwhile, the team's supporters await "evidence the owners' decisiveness is not merely restricted to firing employees” (GUARDIAN, 5/17). In London, Patrick Barclay writes Henry and Werner have "dismissed two managers in 16 months at a club whose greatest achievements were founded on stability." Ownership's "main task was to build a new stadium so the club could have hope of competing with erstwhile rivals such as Manchester United and Real Madrid and, thus far, the New Englanders have made no more progress than their derided predecessors" (London EVENING STANDARD, 5/17). The GUARDIAN's David Conn writes as Dalglish’s tenure with Liverpool is over, “so too is the honeymoon period for the club's American owners.” Liverpool supporters will demand a coherent plan from FSG, for a new manager, coaching structure, and some action on the stadium.” Conn adds, “The American owners' next moves have to be very much more sure-footed” (GUARDIAN, 5/17). In London, Tony Barrett writes FSG “demonstrated its ruthless ambition once more and Dalglish was the victim." It remains to be seen "whether the removal of a club icon will be the catalyst for the achievement of its objectives, but it is clearly its biggest gamble as Liverpool owner and one that is likely to have youth at its core” (LONDON TIMES, 5/17). Also in London, Tony Evans writes the club “lost much of their soul" with the move. Henry is “nothing if not bold." The move "smacks of ambition." Evans: “There will be a series of appointments in the next few weeks. FSG needs to be impressive to restore a sense of purpose and give the club direction. ...They have no margin for error” (LONDON TIMES, 5/17).