Damien Commoli set to leave Liverpool FC

IT’S BEEN five months since Damien Comolli was shown the door at Liverpool FC but the cost of the Frenchman’s reign as director of football continues to cut deep.

Brendan Rodgers has paid a heavy price this summer for the financial mismanagement of the club prior to his arrival. The boss’ attempts to overhaul his squad prior to last night’s transfer deadline were severely hampered by budgetary constraints. A number of attractive deals in recent weeks had to be abandoned due to a lack of funds.

Rodgers has had to wheel and deal, off-loading fringe players in order to boost the £20million transfer kitty he was given.

However, that challenge was made even more difficult by the acute lack of value in players who Liverpool had previously paid a fortune for.

Between January and August 2011 the Reds shelled out £113million on transfers as Fenway Sports Group gave the green light to the biggest spending spree in Anfield history.

The subsequent poor return on that investment in the Premier League last season led to Comolli’s sacking in April followed by the exit of Kenny Dalglish.

The manager pinpointed the signings he wanted but it was left to Comolli to negotiate and complete the deals. FSG had expected a lot more bang for their buck.

This summer it’s been a case of once bitten, twice shy. Funds haven’t been as readily available as the owners want Liverpool to live within their means.

Recent events have been a damning indictment of the business Liverpool did under the previous regime as Rodgers has set about dismantling Dalglish’s team.

Andy Carroll and Charlie Adam departed this week and Jordan Henderson would have gone as well if he hadn’t rejected a move to Fulham.


Stewart Downing is now a £20million full-back.

Newcastle’s managing director Derek Llambias dines out on stories about the night he sold Carroll for a British record £35million. He took full advantage of Comolli’s desperation to do business.

It was a panic buy following the exit of Fernando Torres for a rookie with only half a season of top flight experience. Newcastle couldn’t believe their luck.

Rodgers was clear from the outset that Carroll wasn’t for him but as Liverpool tried to offload him this summer there were few takers. The only clubs to register an interest were West Ham, Newcastle, Fulham and Aston Villa. No-one put a permanent bid on the table, forcing the Reds to accept the Hammers’ offer of a £1million fee for a season-long loan. There is no commitment on their part to buy him next summer.

Similarly, there was hardly a battle for Adam’s services. The Scottish midfielder was out of his depth at Anfield and was never going to be mobile enough to fit into Rodgers’ playing style. A year after arriving from Blackpool for £8million amid talk he was the new Xabi Alonso, Liverpool got half their cash back courtesy of Stoke City.

Henderson remains at Anfield but the fact that the Reds were willing to offer him plus cash for Clint Dempsey speaks volumes.

When Sunderland contemplated losing Henderson last summer, Steve Bruce told his chairman he believed they could get £4million for him. Imagine his delight when Comolli offered £14million and then swiftly improved that bid to £16million.

Comolli was FSG’s first senior appointment back in November 2010. The Frenchman convinced them he would get value for money. That he would unearth hidden gems and sign players who would have a high sell-on value. Comolli failed miserably and Rodgers has had to pick up the pieces.



Read more: Liverpool Echo http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2012/09/01/blood-red-brendan-rodgers-rebuilding-plans-hampered-by-failures-of-previous-liverpool-fc-regime-100252-31739935/2/#ixzz2Bnifur3N