Don't blame me for parry exit

Rafa Benitez revealed on Friday that talks over a new contract are still ongoing, despite confirmation that Ricky Parry will leave the club.

Liverpool confirmed on Friday that chief executive Parry will leave at the end of the season, as co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett try to take the club forward.

The decision will inevitably by viewed as a triumph for Benitez, who is angling for total control over transfers, but the Liverpool admitted he is still to agree a new deal with the Anfield club.

“In the last interview I spoke of the contact between the owners and my advisers and still they have to talk,” stated the Spaniard.

“We still have to talk, my advisers and the owners still have to talk.”

Parry’s exit from the club is just yet another off-field headline created by Liverpool this season, but Benitez is adamant it will not affect their stuttering title challenge.

He also distanced himself from any role in Parry’s departure, insisting the decision was based on his relationship with the owners.

“I think it’s a decision between the owners and Rick Parry, he will stay here until the end of the season so we will all work together in the best interests of the club. After this, we will wish him all the best.

“I like to concentrate on football. I don’t think it will be a problem to work with Rick for the rest of the season, we all want the best for the club.

“We haven’t had time to get distracted by these things, we’ve just arrived this morning from Madrid. OK we heard the news but we’ve just been deciding on the squad – who’s fit to play. That’s the things I can control. I will say again I am just thinking about football operations, this is between the owners and Rick Parry.”