Rodgers and Martinez in frame for Liverpool job
Last Updated: May 29, 2012 8:40pm
Brendan Rodgers and Roberto Martinez: Duo in the frame for Liverpool vacancy
Liverpool's search for a new manager to replace the sacked Kenny Dalglish could come to a conclusion this week as the club have now narrowed down their options.
Wigan's Roberto Martinez
had been the front-runner for a long time, only for Swansea's Brendan Rodgers to take over as the bookmakers' favourite overnight.
had been the front-runner for a long time, only for Swansea's Brendan Rodgers to take over as the bookmakers' favourite overnight.The pair have been the two main candidates throughout the two-week process of whittling down potential contenders and it is now believed an announcement is likely to be made by the weekend.
Both Martinez and Rodgers returned to Britain in the last 24 hours after trips across the Atlantic but only the former had spoken to Reds principal owner John Henry, interrupting a holiday in Barbados to fly to Miami for brief talks.
Rodgers along with his wife, was a guest of the Football Association of Wales for Sunday's friendly against Mexico in the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
of Wales for Sunday's friendly against Mexico in the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.Initial advances
The Northern Irishman met with chairman Huw Jenkins on Tuesday afternoon but the club insist it was a scheduled appointment and he had not cut short his trip to America especially for it.
Swansea stress they have received no second approach from Liverpool - Rodgers having turned down their initial advances almost a fortnight ago - and it is understood the pair did not even discuss the Anfield vacancy at their meeting.
- Rodgers having turned down their initial advances almost a fortnight ago - and it is understood the pair did not even discuss the Anfield vacancy at their meeting.The primary topic of conversation appears to have been transfers, with the Swans on the verge of completing a club-record £6.8million transfer for on-loan Hoffenheim midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson and interested in a loan deal for Tottenham's out-of-favour Giovani dos Santos - whom Rodgers watched in New York.
midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson and interested in a loan deal for Tottenham's out-of-favour Giovani dos Santos - whom Rodgers watched in New York.However, despite suggestions elsewhere that Rodgers had already been offered the Liverpool job, the club refused to comment officially on their manager's position.
Deadline
Overnight the bookmakers moved Rodgers ahead of Martinez, who flew into Manchester Airport on Tuesday morning from the Caribbean to be confronted by a television camera crew and photographers but left without commenting.
The Spaniard has been given a deadline of Thursday by Latics chairman Dave Whelan to decide his future.
But he touched down in England to reports suggesting Rodgers was now in the driving seat despite having turned down Liverpool first time around because, it was suggested, he did not want to become involved in a lengthy process with up to 12 names mentioned at the time.
There have been growing claims in Wales and his native Northern Ireland that Rodgers would now be more receptive to the Reds with the list of candidates having been whittled down.
that Rodgers would now be more receptive to the Reds with the list of candidates having been whittled down.
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