Academy director McParland praises 'inspirational' Dalglish

Academy director Frank McParland has hailed the return of Kenny Dalglish as an 'inspiration'. Speaking to the official site, he said:

"Kenny's a special person."

"So just to have him around the place makes a real difference. If you think of what he has achieved in the game as a player and a manager then it really does give you goosebumps. The experience he brings is something that we can all tap into. Not just the youngsters but also myself and the coaching staff here."

"Football is at the very core of Kenny's being and the knowledge he has is going to be such an inspiration to all of us."

"I saw an interview with Kenny recently in which he said he was relishing working at the Academy. Well I think I can safely speak for everyone here when I say that we are all relishing working with him."

Future outlined by new Academy director

Liverpool’s new Academy director Frank McParland has outlined plans for the overhaul of the club’s youth set-up says today’s Post. The article goes on to say: “As many as 16 academy employees – including coaches, physiotherapists and sports scientists – have left the club in recent weeks" as the shake up continues. "McParland is heading up a new set-up with new technical director Jose Segura, who has worked in Barcelona’s youth set-up, also on board.”

Speaking abut the plans, McParland said: “Work continues to identify the best possible people to get the academy working properly again and producing players that can progress through to the first team. I hope to be able to confirm other additions to our team within the next month. We will examine every part of the academy’s operation and will be looking to make improvements not just in the coaching set-up, but also in areas such as medical, physio and fitness work. One new initiative will see the appointment of a head of sports science, who will tailor specific programmes for individual age groups to help them progress more quickly.”

More coaching shake-up's brings Dalglish return closer

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is continuing his summer shake up of the academy with the departure of four of his coaches reports the Mail. “Gary Ablett is being replaced as reserve team manager after three years, another former player, Hugh McAuley, who guided the under 18s to the FA Youth Cup Final is also departing. Youth coaches Dave Lever and Dave Shannon are also leaving. Frank McParland will return to oversee the backroom set-up and former Barcelona and Olympiakos coach Jose Segura is taking over as Academy Director.” The wholesale changes appear to pave the way for Anfield legend Kenny Dalglish to return to the club as an “advisor or ambassador” claims the article. The story also states that “popular former midfielder Gary McAllister is also being linked with a coaching role.”

Academy director Hamberg’s departure clears way for Dalglish return

Liverpool Academy technical director Piet Hamberg (pictured right) is to leave the club at the end of the season reports the BBC. Hamberg, 55, joined Liverpool's academy in Kirkby two years ago from Swiss club Grasshoppers Zurich, where he was manager and technical director. The Dutchman, who replaced Steve Heighway in 2007, also had a playing spell at Ajax in the 1980s.

Hamberg's departure clearly opens the door for former manager Kenny Dalglish to return to the club. Dalglish has made no secret of the fact that he would be delighted to return to Liverpool "in whatever capacity".

Club captain Steven Gerrard would also love to see the man voted Liverpool’s greatest ever player return. Speaking to the Mirror recently he said "My first response to the news was, 'Great, get him in now' because the man is a legend. It's a great idea to get Kenny in because it would give the club a massive lift."

"Put it this way, if I was a young player again and a number of clubs wanted to sign me, if Kenny Dalglish came to me and asked me to sign for Liverpool then there is only one place I would go."

The Academy is expected to have major changes over the summer. Rafa Benitez recently appointed former Reds chief scout Frank McParland as Academy Director. It is believed the Reds boss has been far from happy with the youth set-up for some time, speaking recently in the Echo he said “Our idea for the Academy was very simple – to keep the things that are working well but also to change the things which we think that we can do better. I think that the young players will be really pleased with the changes that we are making and I think it will not be long before the improvements become very clear. Okay, we will need to see some time to see the results of everything but it will be clear from the very beginning that things will be a little bit different.”