Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has resigned as manager of the
club following a row over the proposed sale of Steven Gerrard to
Chelsea.
The Spaniard resigned following a scheduled monthly board meeting
on Thursday in which he was informed that his Liverpool skipper
Steven Gerrard would be sold to Chelsea in the summer for
£47million after a fee was agreed on Tuesday of this week.
There have been suggestions though that advisors representing
Benitez held secret talks with Real Madrid earlier this week with
the view of taking over the Spanish giants at the end of the
season. News of those talks are said to have alerted Anfield chiefs
which has further complicated things.
Speaking live on Sky Sports News this evening, Liverpool chief
executive Rick Parry read out the following statement: "The board
of directors have this evening terminated the contract of Rafael
Benitez with immediate effect. Academy director Steve Heighway will
take control of the first team until a replacement is found."
Asked if it was true if the club had agreed a fee with Chelsea to
sell them Steven Gerrard, Parry simply refused to comment and said
a further statement would be released at Friday's pre-match press
gathering which could prove to be a heated affair.
Reports in London claim that Chelsea have already made a down
payment of £23.5million in cash (50% of the total transfer fee that
has been quoted) and that goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini is also
included in the deal.
Chelsea refused to comment this evening on the developments at
Anfield but it was interesting to note that Sky Sports will be
showing their pre-match press conference live tomorrow
afternoon.
Steven Gerrard's agents SFX refused to speak to Sky Sports but
Rafa's agent Manuel Garcia Quilon did say that he would comment
"when appropriate".
Reports in Spain claim that Rafael Benitez will take over as
manager of Real Madrid some time next week.
http://www.koptalk.org/forums/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/430015/page/0/view/collapsed/sb/5/o/all/fpart/1
I hope this is april fool joke...i'm getting worried 
