Hodgson top candidate to replace Benitez

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

Liverpool hope to make rapid progress in their efforts to install a successor to Rafael Benítez with Roy Hodgson the leading candidate following further talks among the Anfield hierarchy

Having finalised the terms of Benítez's exit swiftly with his representatives on Thursday, Liverpool directors met again to discuss his possible replacements. Both Hodgson and his Aston Villa counterpart, Martin O'Neill, have supporters inside the Anfield boardroom but the Fulham manager is expected to receive the first approach as Liverpool seek a steadying influence with a European pedigree.

The process of identifying and appointing the new manager is being led by Liverpool's managing director, Christian Purslow, and Kenny Dalglish. Despite being installed as the early favourite for the vacancy by bookmakers and seeing his cause championed by former Liverpool teammates including Bruce Grobbelaar and Mark Lawrenson, Dalglish is not expected to return to the role he quit in 1991.

Dalglish, who won three league titles and two FA Cups during his six years at the helm, is currently employed as the club's ambassador and has been touted as the man to convince Steven Gerrard and possibly Fernando Torres to remain at Liverpool this summer.

"I think there is only one man for the job and that is Kenny Dalglish," said Grobbelaar today. "I think maybe now is the time he can turn the tide and take the club, stabilise it, with the fans, make sure everything gets on track and take the club where it should be."

With five weeks until the end of the World Cup, and the club's World Cup contingent not due back on Merseyside until mid-July, Liverpool are under no pressure to install an interim appointment or rush the managerial search. However, despite the financial restrictions and doubts over key players, Anfield officials are confident of securing their first choice.

No formal approach has been made to Fulham for Hodgson as yet and the Europa League finalists would not welcome a move for their manager, who has a £2.5m release clause in his 12-month rolling contract at Craven Cottage. Fulham would fight hard to keep Hodgson, who is currently on holiday and whose wife is from Liverpool.

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