SOCCER:Liverpool's co-chairman, George Gillett, has confirmed that Rafael Benitez's position is secure at Anfield, although the length of the Spaniard's tenure and what influence he has on transfer policy has not been clarified following a three-hour meeting of the club's hierarchy.
Benitez met his American employers on Sunday for the first time since their fundamental rift over transfer policy - 26 days after the manager first ridiculed their instructions to "focus on coaching and training" his team. The talks were described as "amicable and constructive".
Gillett and his fellow owner, Tom Hicks, left the Anfield meeting without commenting and it is understood all parties agreed not to elaborate on the misunderstanding that had threatened the manager's position.
At the Liverpool Former Players' Association Christmas dinner that followed the 1-0 home defeat by Manchester United, however, Gillett told the audience that, while he has encountered problems working with Benitez, they had now reached a consensus that involved the Spaniard remaining as manager.
That drew warm applause from the former players and Liverpool supporters but the issues that have cast doubt on Benitez's position - namely his say on all arrivals and departures, his willingness to refrain from public criticism of the Americans and their largesse in the transfer market - have effectively been placed on hold until next summer.
"This wasn't supposed to happen but it has happened and now the focus has to be on finding a common platform to continue our co-operation," said Gillett. "Rafa is the one we want as a manager further on and we have faith in him."
Benitez left the meeting confident Liverpool's owners will take the option to complete the £17 million (€24 million) permanent transfer of Javier Mascherano, one of the problems that fuelled his public outburst on November 22nd, and that his appeal for two Bosman signings in January will be pursued by the club's chief executive, Rick Parry.
Yet, with Gillett and Hicks still to secure the £500 million (€702 million) loan they require to fund a proposed £400 million (€562 million) stadium on Stanley Park and re-finance the Royal Bank of Scotland loan they acquired to purchase the club in February, the manager's budget for the next transfer window has not been finalised. Benitez is content to work with a restricted budget next month and is unlikely to jeopardise his position with a renewed attack on the owners.
The litmus test of their restored relations will come when he demands a budget comparable with those of his top four rivals at the end of this season. "I've been married over 40 years and have first-hand knowledge about how to solve an argument," Gillett said. "We concentrated on getting an overview of the situation and I felt we accomplished that."
The Liverpool co-chairman told the Former Players he and Hicks were conscious of supporters' views - the vast majority behind Benitez - and would not impose controversial decisions against their wishes, arguably the most encouraging thing the manager could take from a demanding day.
Defeat by United left Liverpool 10 points shy of Arsenal at the top but defender Sami Hyypia believes it is premature to write the club out of the title race.
The centrehalf, whose side travel to Chelsea for a League Cup quarter-final tomorrow, said: "Of course, 10 points is quite a big gap but it is not impossible. Our away form has been better than our home form this season, so I'm confident we will get something out of those games - and we have to get something if we are to catch them."
