PURSLOW IN NO HURRY AT ANFIELD

WITHIN two minutes of Liverpool's calamitous Champions League exit, the privilege of being the most powerful man at Anfield shifted to new managing director Christian Purslow.

The ceremonial passing of the baton was clear when Purslow, in a deliberate attempt to shield Rafa Benitez, stood before a live TV audience and dismissed suggestions the manager's job was under immediate threat.

A vulnerable Rafa's fate was in his hands. A frenzy of speculation was strangled at birth. The symbolic moment signalled a change of strategy at Anfield.

Before Purslow, the Liverpool regime was criticised for reacting to events with painstaking reluctance rather than proactively setting the agenda.

Exit from Europe might once have led to 72 hours of speculation while club officials kept their counsel.

Whether Purslow's break with this tradition was agreeable or not, its effectiveness can't be doubted.

He prevented any claims that Benitez was on the brink.

Liverpool way

Purslow is the latest incumbent entrusted with redefining the ambiguous phrase 'The Liverpool Way'.

The term has been hijacked by different factions for its own end, creating Liverpool's current state of confused identity. Ex-chairman David Moores thought the Liverpool Way was to get on with the job while presenting a dignified, silent front no matter how much chaos unfolded. That left him open to accusations by his biggest critic, Steve Morgan, of 'fiddling while Rome burns'.

Others see the Liverpool Way as representing the working class fighting spirit of Bill Shankly, taking on the world whilst indulging every whim of the most vocal Kopite.

Purslow is seeking a departure from the invisibility of Moores and belligerence of a siege mentality. He must responsibly fill the vacuum of power created by the American owners' failure.

A look at the minutes of Anfield's old AGMs confirms Purslow has the right credentials, combining business acumen with emotional attachment to the club.

In 2004, he stood up in support of Steve Morgan during a feisty meeting. An emotional David Moores, then chairman, said he'd consider his future.

The bad blood remains, on one side at least, with life president Moores refusing to sit in Liverpool's directors' box, seemingly insulted by Purslow's appointment.

Purslow remains on a learning curve.

Before his arrival he arranged no-holds- barred interviews with key personnel to assess the debris of three traumatic years under the ownership of George Gillett and Tom Hicks. "Christian wanted to get an impartial, broad view from as many staff as possible," an Anfield source said.

"What he discovered was a club in which all the key relationships between owners, chief executive and manager were malfunctioning."

The wounds haven't healed. The most recent spat between Hicks and Gillett proved it's impossible for Purslow to unite the club until one or both goes.

Will

His relationship with Benitez is good, although Purslow's most telling statement of the summer zoned in on the "accountability of the manager for results and performances".

The 45-year-old Harvard graduate will be spotted at the back of the room during Press conferences. Not, he insists, to ensure Benitez doesn't speak out of turn, but more to understand how the media operates and to be sure if the manager's words are reported in the same tone in which he said them.

His immediate response to the Champions League exit included get-out clauses. The will for the manager to fulfil the last four-and-a-half years of his contract is unquestionable - but football reality forces constant re-evaluation.

Benitez is safe while he retains the support of The Kop but failure to finish in the top four will lead to a review of his position.

If supporters want anything from Purslow, it's a redrawing of the boundaries between employer and employee.

Sir John Smith presided over the glory years from 1973 to 1990. He was no working class hero.

He was an authoritative, ruthless figure who never indulged in sentiment and often took unpopular decisions for the greater good.

You only have to recall how Bill Shankly felt shunned following his retirement to understand how pandering to the wish of every fan or former idol wasn't on the agenda.

Liverpool need leaders with the authority and respect.

If Purslow's knowledge of Anfield history takes him in the direction of Smith, at least one legacy of the grubby American era will be worthy of celebration.

• BABEL HEADS FOR EXIT TO BAYERN
• LIVERPOOL WOULD BE MAD TO SACK RAFA

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