Barnes: Kenny would be fantastic

The following story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club:

Former Liverpool winger John Barnes believes the club must quickly put their faith in a new manager to ensure stability.

Managing director Christian Purslow and club legend Kenny Dalglish have begun the search for Rafael Benitez's replacement after the Spaniard left the club by mutual consent on Thursday.

The Scot has himself been tipped as a potential replacement and Barnes told BBC Radio Five Live: "Whoever comes in should come in now and say 'I'm the manager of Liverpool' - not short term, and you can't really say long term because as a manager you know two years and you're not going to be there.

"I think Kenny would do a fantastic job, but I've no idea (whether he wants to go back into management)."

Barnes admits the incoming manager must get the best out of a squad whose lack of depth was exposed in last season's seventh-place finish in the Barclays Premier League.

"The new manager has got to be someone who can come in and work with the existing squad," he said.

"I hope Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres stay because I think they've been our best players."

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.