Liverpool Have New King - Rodgers

On Sunday May 13 Liverpool played Swansea City, in the last fixture of the Premier League season, at the Liberty Stadium with Kenny Dalglish at the helm - and Brendan Rodgers on the home bench.

The home side won the match 1-0.

Within hours of the final whistle Dalglish was off down thew M4 and catching a flight to the United States to meet Liverpool's owner, John W Henry, and Fenway Sports Management to assess the season end - and make plans for the new season.

The answer was simple from the US owners, the future did not include Dalglish.

Unfortunately under his rule club fell to eighth place in the Premier league table, miss out Champions League football in 2013, lost the FA Cup - with the Carling Cup the only silverware to show for the money spent and effort exerted.

Legend or not, Kenny's number was up and time, it seems, waits for no manager.

Less than a month later it is Rodgers travelling along the M5 to Liverpool with a three year deal in place, according to BBC Sport, to take charge of the Anfield club. Roger is the new crown prince.

It seems the king is dead, so long live the king!

Only two years ago Rodgers took over as manager of the Swans following Paulo Sousa's departure to Leicester City.

Originally from Carnlough in Northern Ireland, Rogers retired as a professional footballer with Reading at the age of 20 due to injury, but remained at the club and in time appointed as youth team coach before.

Jose Mourinho made him team manager at Chelsea in 2004 and two years later he was promoted to reserve team boss at Stamford Bridge before taking over as Watford manager in November 2008.

His stay at Vicarage Road was brief, however, as he returned to Reading to replace Steve Coppell as manager in June 2009.

But, following a difficult start where he was forced to sell some of the club's top players after their exit from the Premier League, he left the Championship club by mutual consent in December 2009.

He was back in management seven months later as he headed to the Liberty Stadium. Sharing the same footballing philosophy as the Swans, it proved a perfect match.

Brendan tempted Scott Sinclair away from former club Chelsea while another Chelsea youngster Fabio Borini made a massive impact after joining on loan later in the season.

They proved shrewd signings as in his first full season as manager, Brendan led the Swans into the Premier League via the play-offs thanks to a Wembley win against former employers Reading.

In doing so, Brendan became the first manager in the club's proud history to guide the Swans to the Premier League.

Rodgers has said in the recent past: “My biggest influence has been Spanish and Dutch football, that Total Football idea. Rodgers’ father enjoyed Brazilian style, he loved gifted players and he was a big influence on the Swans boss.

"The British type of football never suited me as a player. It was very much smash it up the pitch and play the percentages. The only percentage I was interested in was possession and I didn't think it was rocket science. If we have the ball, you can't score, no matter how big or strong you are. I've always worked off that.”

Amen to that.....

Rogers Turns Down Red Approach

Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers has turned down an approach from Liverpool over their managerial vacancy.

The Reds sacked Kenny Dalglish on Wednesday after a disappointing season that resulted in their worst league finish for 18 years.

Owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) have already made an approach for Wigan boss Roberto Martinez but are keen to interview other candidates as they search for the right man.

But it won't be Rodgers who is heading to Anfield, after the Northern Irishman rejected the opportunity to speak to FSG.

The 39-year-old guided the Swans to 11th in their debut Premier League season, earning many plaudits for the team's attractive style of play.

But it is apparent he does not view the Anfield club - who are seeking a fourth manager in two years - as the right step to develop his career.

12 candidates

A statement on Swansea's official website read: "Swansea City can confirm that an approach from Liverpool FC to speak to manager Brendan Rodgers was officially received by club chairman Huw Jenkins this morning.

"The club is pleased to confirm that Brendan has declined the current opportunity to speak to the Anfield club about the vacant position.

"The Swansea manager is currently working hard to strengthen their squad in readiness for the new Barclays Premier League campaign.

"The club will make no further comment at this stage."

Liverpool are believed to have drawn up a list of candidates that could include as many as 12 high-profile names.

FSG's possible targets range from UEFA Champions League winners such as Fabio Capello and Pep Guardiola to young Premier League coaching talent like Martinez and Rodgers.

United Match City at Swansea

First-half goals from Paul Scholes and Ashley Young gave Manchester United a very hollow 2-0 victory over Swansea at Old Trafford. The result ensures the Barclays Premier League champions will take the defence of their trophy into the final day.....

Swansea City FC Show Losses

Swansea City FC say winning promotion to the Premier League has contributed to a loss of £8.2m for the financial year ending 30 May, 2011.

The Swans reached the top flight after beating Reading 4-2 in the Championship play-off final at Wembley last May.

Bonuses and transfer fees were among the reasons cited for the losses.

But the club's board says that income from the first season in the Premier League should cancel out the losses next year.

In a statement, the board said Swansea's operating budgets for 2011/12 are structured this way to maintain the philosophy of running a financially stable football club.

"While the accounts reveal an overall loss after tax of £8.2m, which was consequently unavoidable after our Wembley win, the large amount of income generated in the Premier League has subsequently enabled these liabilities to be adequately met in the current financial year," a board statement said.

"The accounts for the current financial year ending May 31, 2012, will be adversely affected by an increase in operating costs, particularly payroll, but our resolve is to realise sufficient profit to counter the 2010/11 loss, and our operating budgets are structured to make this happen.

"With regard to the future, our immediate goal is to consolidate our position in the Premier League and ensure we survive this season.

"Our long-term goal will cater for Swansea City remaining as a top flight club and to continue to contribute in part to the feel good factor and prosperity in the local community.Promoted clubs

"We will not, however, do this in any way that puts the club's financial stability at risk. This remains paramount in our management philosophy.''

Other contributors to the losses includes a rule that promoted clubs from the Championship pay money to clubs relegated from that division.

As play-off final winners, the Swans also forfeited their share of the Wembley gate receipts because of another rule.

In the previous financial year, Swansea City made a profit of nearly £600,000.