New Liverpool Manager Brendan Rodgers: I Have Complete Control

New Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has claimed he only agreed to take charge at Anfield after being assured full control of the team. The 39 year old Northern Irishman said he had declared himself ready to pass up the opportunity of becoming the manager if the club pressed ahead with plans to appoint a sporting director.

"I wanted to make sure I'd be in charge of football matters, I would control the team and control the work. One of the things you need to do is to know yourself - and I do. I have provided leadership all the way and I am better when I have control. I am not a power freak but I need to feel I can manage it in terms of the team and have a direct clear line through to the owners," The Sun quoted Rodgers as saying.

The Northern Irishman signed a three-year deal to become the 18th manager in the club's history, replacing former player Kenny Dalglish, who was sacked last month.

Dutch manager Louis van Gaal was recently linked with the role of sporting director at Liverpool, a post similar to the one held by former director of football Damien Comolli before he was shown the door. However, those plans have been scrapped after Rodgers agreed to take charge.

"If it was anything other than that, then I couldn't have said yes. I've had total clarity with that from the guys, so I've got confidence that will remain. It was for this reason that I didn't want to say what I've said and then, in three weeks' time, Louis Van Gaal walks in the door. It does not work," the Daily Star quoted Rodgers.

"If you are going to do that as a club, you have to do that first. That was my recommendation - if you want to have a sporting director, get him in then you can pick your manager from there. But if you do, I won't be the manager," the former Chelsea reserves coach added.

However, Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan stated Roberto Martinez had rejected the chance to join Liverpool as he was not happy with the new collective managerial structure set to be implemented at the club and Rodgers was appointed since he agreed to it.

In either case, Rodgers will take his assistant Colin Pascoe, conditioning expert Glen Driscoll and match analyst Chris Davies along with him from Swansea to Merseyside.

The new manager received a good luck message from Dalglish, who congratulated his successor on Twitter.