KENNY DALGLISH returns to manage Liverpool today determined to stay on for the long haul.
Dalglish, who has cut short a holiday to answer the club’s SOS in the aftermath of Roy Hodgson’s sacking, wants to remove the ‘caretaker’ tag as quickly as possible.
The 59-year-old Scot aims to make owners John W Henry and Tom Werner rethink their plans to look for a high-profile manager in the summer.
By then an eager Dalglish, who was upset last summer in being overlooked as Rafa Benitez’s successor in favour of Fulham’s Hodgson, wants to have nailed the job on a permanent basis.
Dalglish, who resigned as Liverpool manager in February 1991 through stress has long hankered for a return to the position.
He has admitted being hurt by a number of rejections over the years – especially last June when he put himself forward to replace Benitez.
A Dalglish confidant said: “Kenny is raring to go but he has no intention of keeping the seat warm for someone else. Ideally he would like a four-year contract as soon as possible, giving him the time to rebuild the club to its former greatness.
“He knows what is needed and wants the time to put everything into motion. It can’t all be sorted in a few months.â€
Dalglish flew home yesterday from the Middle East after abandoning a holiday cruise. He has been given the job until the end of the season after Hodgson, who has only been in charge for six months, agreed a severance package on Friday.
Yesterday he returned to say his farewell to the players before first team coach Sammy Lee took the final training session ahead of today’s FA Cup tie at Manchester United.
Dalglish, who was due to arrive at the team hotel late last night, is expected to change the coaching set-up. There may be a key role for defender Jamie Carragher, who has been highly critical of some players. There could also be a place for Dalglish’s former striking partner Ian Rush, another Kop legend, as the Scot looks to rebuild a boot room mentality at Anfield.
