Reds to make move for Roy

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

Liverpool's board will meet on Friday to agree a formal approach for Roy Hodgson.

The club will press on with their intention to ask for permission to speak to the Fulham boss, despite their own king-maker, Kenny Dalglish, admitting he would be prepared to do the vacant manager's job at Anfield.

The Kop legend has spent the past two days submerged in meetings with MD Christian Purslow to decide on a short-list of candidates to present to the board.

The pair met for six hours on Monday to discuss the best possible successor to Rafa Benitez, who was sacked last week, and considered a host of names, including Hodgson, Louis Van Gaal, Guus Hiddink, Martin O'Neill, Harry Redknapp and Mark Hughes.

And Dalglish has given his backing to his respected friend Hodgson, after enquiries ruled out the two other front-runners Van Gaal and Hiddink.

Liverpool are in no rush to appoint a replacement for Benitez, who is finally due to be unveiled as the new Inter Milan manager, following days of haggling over the role.

The board tasked Dalglish and Purslow to come up with a short-list of candidates, to allow an approach to be made to the front-runner after the formality of a vote.

The meeting will be held before the weekend, and if the club's American owners agree, Liverpool are then expected to contact Fulham for permission to hold discussions with Hodgson, who has flown to South Africa to be part of the BBC's World Cup team.

That process could take a couple of weeks, but the Merseyside club are confident they will be able to unveil their new manager before the end of the month.

Dalglish has made clear his willingness to take on the role on a permanent basis if it would help the club, but only if Liverpool can't secure the services of his top recommendation.

If Hodgson decides to stay at Fulham and Van Gaal and Hiddink remain reluctant to move to England, then he would offer to step in to fill the post during a difficult period in Anfield history.

It is more likely though, that he will be offered another role at the club working with Hodgson, should he be appointed, given the relationship the pair have.

Dalglish and Purslow considered the merits of O'Neill, who has his backers on the Reds board, but he is a deeply unpopular figure with the Liverpool fans, who have already made clear their unease at his link with the vacant position.

Hughes too, had to be discounted because of his life-long connections with Manchester United, and the fact that he also played for Everton where he remains popular - two associations that would be complete anathema to the Kop faithful.

Hodgson is a far less controversial figure who has won admirers for his tactical triumph in steering tiny Fulham to a UEFA Cup final, and his vast European experience aligned to his diplomatic skills appeals to the Liverpool board.

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