Yeah, I agree with some fellows here. how do you know that Rafa will be sacked in the summer? You articles are biased mate. If I were the sports editor of The Times (which I always read because it tends to be the most objective paper in England) I would certainly not let you write another article about Liverpool. You are clearly biased.

George, Liverpool,

I currently work for an American Company, and have noted that there is an all pervasive short term attitude to problems. I fear the same if happening to my beloved club...I don't think enough attention is being paid to how much rebuilding work Rafa has put in place. The restructuring of our youth policy, underpinned by the signings of promising youngsters this summer, will take years to show it's true benefit. This approach is much in the mould of Wenger at Arsenal, and look at the seemingly endless conveyor belt of young talent at his disposal. The concerning aspect is a lot of our buys are foreign players who may not have even considered moving their lives to England were it not for Rafa. So, Rafa is the heartbeat of any rebuilding project. At worst I can see a mass exodus of stars, and future stars,...and a serious threat to any future league success. Rafa walked away from Valencia for similar reasons, and owners with little experience of football has got to be even more frustrating

Mohamed Negm, Glasgow, Scotland

What is the point of appointing a manger and then taking away his responsibility. As a fun i am outraged, rafa has always made good buys and should be allowed to continue doing so. How can a chef cook a superior meal when he knows nothin about where his ingredients are coming from?? think about it!!

Kc, Nairobi Kenya

kipchumba, nairobi , Kenya

While I do believe Rafa is a great manager and is an excellent choice for Liverpool's long-term future, the fact is that he has openly defied the owners in public. It is very difficult for any employer to accept this, and I am not entirely surprised at Hicks' reaction.

However, what I really don't understand is why these debates are not being conducted behind the scenes. Public statements of position such as these affect the morale of both players and fans, and do nothing to create harmony in the club. I sincerely hope that the whole issue can be sorted out, but I fear there will be some kind of fall out next summer.

Geoff Carey, HK

Geoff Carey, Hong Kong,

seamus in Ireland obviously knows nothing about the passion of Liverpool supporters, mark my words the loyal supporters of Liverpool FC will have the final say on this, just keep watching tonight and witness a show of support for a manager like you have never seen before.

Eddie, Liverpool, uk

Fans, Liverpool fans in particular, love to believe that they own their club - but they don't. LFC is now owned by these Americans and they are going to do what they want. We have had these speeches and threats over and over again from fans at Newcastle, Spurs, Chelsea et al and what good did it ever do? There is absolutely no reason for Hicks & Gillette to back down over anything - if Benitez doesn't do exactly what they want, he's gone.

Nogbad, Aberdeen, Scotland

melanie anne fender, neath you poor poor girl they own everything they can do what they want . you can ,march or protest all you want but its now H&G FC not liverpool fc

seamus, dublin, ireland

I wonder if the USA-chanting Liverpool fans now realise what the takeover fo the club means. I don't recall any protest from Liverpool fans unlike the opposition that we saw at Manchester United to the Glazers' takeover. Hicks and Gillet now own the club and can do what they like with it - just wait for the massive ticket price increases to pay for the stadium. They will not put in a dime of their own money - the Liverpool fans will pay for the stadium and repay Hicks and Gillet for the acquisition of the club. As for Benitez, his behaviour in recent days has been like that of a scolded child - grow up man!

Phil Daniels, Newcastle upon Tyne,

from kosovo , I think rafa will stay at liverpool, because at the moment he is a nomber one of the world . byyyy .

ceniiiiiiii, gjilan, kosovo

I cannot believe how naive these lfc fans are. If they don't see that it is houlier allover again then maybe they should stay in the sandon pub. Better questions need answering such as why has rafa got rid of our youth cup winning players? is it becuse they are brits? why is his transfer policy so flawed? so spanish based? why does continue hs rotation policy? why does momo play at lfc? I could go on, wake up liverpool, we will never win the prem with rafa, get jose, hiddenk, rijkaard in and fast. U have my support G& H

Bobby, Liverpool,

Hicka and Gillette,take note of the protest tonight!

Duncan, Preston, Lancashire

Let's look at this situation objectively, shall we? The manager is currently underachieving in Europe (and to some extent in the Premier League, with only 2 wins in 6 at Fortress Anfield) despite receiving and spending millions of pounds on players since his arrival. Unless Liverpool defeat both Porto and Marseille, that massive outlay will look a bad investment to the owners, who are entitled to demand results from their manager. Furthermore, although it is not mentioned in the press, Liverpool finished last season with 14 fewer points than the season before. Yes, Benitez's teams have won have won trophies (albeit both in penalty shootouts) but he can live off of those results for only so long. Finally, Benitez during a press conference arrogantly insults his bosses who provided him with those millions , an action which in most businesses deserves severe reprimands if not outright dismissal. Objectively then, Benitez is a very good manager but not as great as he thinks he is.

Rob, Brussels,

Although it is true that the fans love rafa and vice versa lets not kid ourselves that his job is safe because of that. Chelsea fans loved Mourinho also but it didn't stop an unfair and undeserved axe from falling, sadly for Chelsea fans to protest would have been pointless in the face of such a powerful owner with such deep pockets. Gillet and Hicks must realise that sacking Rafa would be absolutely disastrous, not only for the team but also as it would cause bitter, prolonged and damaging unrest among the fans. G&H have basically only spent about 10M more than would have normally been spent and seem to be backtracking on their promise not to rack up huge debts for the club. If they were to sack Rafa the position they occupy would be far less secure than Abramovich's was at Chelsea when he sacked Mourinho.

I suspect both parties will pull back see sense and sort out the lines of communication as I do believe that all involved want a succesful LFC.

Adam, Valencia, Spain

Oliver, Youre tone in your numerous recent articles on this issue clearly shows the extent that the media is playing in blowing this out of proportion.

Rafa is and will always be a part of the Liverpool family....the fans know it; the players know it; now you should get it and move on.

LFC for life.

Ngatia, Nairobi, Kenya

Shocked to hear Balague's sense of Hick's view.
Seems the anser is yes Hicks is ploughing mule head dumb forward on Benitez. Sack the manager and wave tara to any title ambitions in the next 5 years. Lose best manager, the spine of the team and glittering prospects. Oh, and get in a better manager who'll work as 'head coach' and win things on 1/3 budget of man u/ chelsea, arsenal! Utterly shocking. Looks increasingly like DM sold to the wrong guys. Worst scenario- Man U fans fears never materialised with glasers- Liverpool fans' trauma and alienation from the club only just beginning. When Hicks does this, anfield will be a desert to them. Cut the crap and dismantle all the front. Parry and Moore's should close the door behind them. LFC RIP

kevin, glasgow,

I believe that all sides needed to back off a little here and I am delighted to hear Rafa's tone has changed slightly. He may not like the new proposals but as a Liverpool fan of 30 years now I was dissappointed that he felt the need to bring it all out in the open. And G&H need to follow that old Pool matra of what goes on in the board room stays in the board room!! Or else we will be just like man u, washing all our dirty linen in public. Just not the Liverpool way.

Now lets just get on with winning the league and forget all about this little tiff! Come on you reeeedddsss!!!!

will, dublin, ireland

Typcial... in come the amercians and mess it all up.... Why cant the amercians leave things how they are.
Benetiz is intelligent and a rather succesful man. He has acheived a lot since arriving at liverpool!.
If Benetiz leaves.....that could spell the end of liverpool..He is still building a team and he is doign v.well... Leave him to it..
The yanks aint got a clue... i suggest they go back home!.

vish, bedford,

"even if a parting of the ways looks inevitable in the long term." Oh really ? So some day Rafa may leave ... absolute genius ... as i said , let the backtracking commence .

Benzo, Nr Chelmsford,

The fans can understand Rafa's frustration, we need to strengthen our squad. The reaction to his outburst is typically northern european and zenophobic. If I were Hicks & Gillet I would be the one adopting a concilliatory tone. Buyers Beware.

Angela Ballans, Liverpool,

Rafa has shown great sense and maturity in the way that he has backed down over this just as I hoped and expected he would. He is a sensible and intelligent man with a passionate desire for success. If he is is guilty of anything then that is all. Let's hope that the owners will have the sense to put this behind them and move on. They bought more than just a business or a franchise. They bought something that people care about passionately, including to his lasting credit Rafa himself.

The fans love Rafa and he loves the fans and this club. He is taking us in the right direction and it would be ridiculous to endanger that with a silly row. I don't know how much of this is media hype and how much is the truth. Whatever, I hope that everyone will be sensible and concentrate on football, something that Rafa has repeatedly demonstrated he has a prodigious gift for.

Paul Owen, Birmingham, UK

"Head Coach", can't believe the rubbish you write. Rafael Benitez is currently the best manager we have had in years. It will be suicide for the these two yanks to sack him.

Mo Fulat, Blackburn, UK

yes rafa must stay, we may finally win the league this year only if he stays

john toher, galway, ireland

H&G need to take a reality check, they may have 'bought' lfc but the club will always belong to the supporters
without us they have 100% of nothing. Think on!

melanie anne fender, neath,