Rafa knifed in the backOct 27 2006 By Chris Bascombe, Liverpool Echo IT COMES as no surprise Rafa Benitez was today attacked by a 'nameless' member of Liverpool's board. Several of the seven man committee have been faceless for so long, they've specialised in their anonymity. Today, chairman David Moores must face up to the responsibility of flushing out the guilty colleague. Liverpool fans will demand to know the identity of the man who's stabbing Benitez in the back, and Moores and chief executive Rick Parry must take immediate action, calling for his resignation with immediate effect. It's inconceivable both Moores and Parry won't be equally disgusted by comments which, given the ongoing pressures on them, couldn't have been timed worse. It was presumed Liverpool's defeat to Manchester United was the low point of the season. Today's scandal comfortably eclipses this. The Liverpool hierarchy is aware of the perilous position it's already in due to their ongoing pursuit of investment. If the 'influential figure' had any guts at all, he'd put his name to the comments immediately and allow others to question him on views which are clearly at odds,not only with the majority of Liverpool supporters, but the rest of his board. After everything Benitez has achieved at Anfield, the cowardly attack splashed on the back page of a national paper this morning summoned images of a WorldWar 1commander complaining the troops on the front line hadn't done enough to defeat the Germans by 1916. At best it's irresponsible drivel, at worst it represents the ramblings of a man descending into lunacy. There have long been suspicions that certain low profile members of the Anfield hierarchy have been on a mission of self-preservation for the past 16 years. Their contribution is negligible, particularly in recent times when Moores and Parry have borne the brunt of the public pressure and criticism in attempting to safeguard the financial future of the club. Others are spotted enjoying the European jollies which Benitez has provided since his arrival in 2004, but little else. In today's article, the source suggests Benitez has enjoyed full financial backing to lead a title charge. "The signings we made in the summer cost us a lot of money and they've not worked, it's the same old story," he says. "We were happy to spend £9m on a centre-forward but we were told we should be spending £30m. You can't go out and get a Bentley all the time." If Benitez was inclined to respond directly, he might point out the number of players he's been forced to shift in order to raise funds to strengthen his squad. He might argue how if the likes of Salif Diao, Bruno Cheyrou, Anthony Le Tallec, Djibril Cisse, Neil Mellor, Florent Sinama-Pongolle, Chris Kirkland and Scott Carson weren't sent on loan, he'd neverhave had enough to bring in six new players. He might argue that the £25m summer outlay was achieved through Champions League success in 2005, and qualification last year,the first of these recognised as a 'miraculous' success given his poor inheritance. He might argue how he's the only Liverpool manager in history to win two major trophies in his first two seasons. He might argue the board's responsibility is to support the manager by providing similar finances as other major clubs such as Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal, who are not only wealthier, but raise far more revenue from avenues such as shirt sponsorship deals. And he may well ask what contribution the 'unnamed source' has made to raising any funds? The greatest concern must be the effect such undermining comments have on Benitez. This is a manager who rejected both his boyhood team Real Madrid and Inter Milan a few months ago, believing he had the full backing of his board and several seasons to bring the title to Merseyside. Both Roy Evans and Gerard Houllier had five years to restore the fortunes of the club,and neither suffered the kind of insult from one of his own board Benitez must tolerate today. If Moores and Parry don't act instantly, the long-term repercussion should not be underestimated. Sunday's defeat at Old Trafford was deeplydisappointing to everyone,not least Benitez, but to attempt to shift the blame for the club's faltering start on him is shameful. There are deep-rooted problems at Anfield, which everyone at Liverpool is fully aware of but prefer the fans not to consider. Benitez has no control over the Liverpool Academy, which has produced just one first-team regular since the move to Kirkby in 1999. Thesearch for investment has been a painful, and sometimes embarrassing process, and although Benitez's transfer kitty may compare favourably with teams with aspirations for UEFACup qualification, they're light years behind Chelsea and Manchester United. All these matters are the board's, not the manager's, responsibility. The unnamed source, so impatient for success, would be wise to remember his response to such accusations if shareholders decide an extraordinary general meeting is justified in the light of his comments. LIVERPOOL'S BOARD * David Moores, chairman * Rick Parry, chief executive * Noel White * Terry Smith * Les Wheatley * Jules Burns * John Cresswell http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0500liv...-name_page.html
