Hodgson offers Dalglish new role

Dalglish commands huge respect among Liverpool supporters

New Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has offered Kop legend Kenny Dalglish a new, enhanced role after beating the Scot to the top job at Anfield.

Dalglish, 59, who had been asked to identify candidates to replace Rafael Benitez, had wanted a return to the role he had between 1985 and 1991.

But after Hodgson was unveiled as manager, there was at least a sweetener for the club's one-time 118-goal hero.

Hodgson said: "When you have a resource like Ken it's best to use it properly."

Club chairman Martin Broughton, sitting alongside former Fulham boss Hodgson at Anfield, made no secret of Dalglish's plans to end his current ambassadorial role at Liverpool and return to full-time management.

Broughton said: "Kenny put his name in for the job and we appreciated the fact he wanted to do it but he was never a candidate. He is happy in his current ambassadorial role."

But on the same day fan website KopTalk claimed Dalglish would now walk away from Liverpool, the former Scottish international gave no suggestion that would happen.

606: DEBATE Have a mate down here in the south-east, who's from Liverpool, and he's fizzing, because he wanted Dalglish to be the manager. LWT

Dalglish told the Daily Mail: "I look very favourably on the appointment. I have known Roy a long time and have a great respect for him. We've not had detailed conversations yet but my interests are in Liverpool."

And Hodgson, 62, elaborated on how he would try to build a relationship with Dalglish.

"I respect the fact that Kenny was entitled to suggest to the board that he wanted to be considered, and it won't affect my relationship with him at all," said Hodgson.

"I want to offer Kenny a new, expanded role, a very important title - head of football development.

"I believe Ken can make the perfect bridge, with his football knowledge between the academy and the training ground, and we should never forget the very important role he will always do as an ambassador.

"I think I will work quite closely with him. It's better to have Kenny Dalglish at the club for the long term, maybe 15 years just like Sir Bobby Charlton has been at Manchester United.

"There are so many roles that man can play to help Liverpool FC and that will outlive my tenure at the club. There's no question about that."

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