Liverpool have released director of football Damien Comolli following widespread criticism of his transfer strategy since being hired by the Premier League club 16 months ago.
Liverpool has spent STG115 million ($A178 million) on players since Comolli joined in November 2010 from French club Saint-Etienne, but expensive recruits Andy Carroll, Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing are among those who have failed to impress.
Comolli said he was moving back to his native France “for family reasons,” with the club saying it had reached the decision by mutual consent.
Kenny Dalglish, who rejoined Liverpool for a second spell as manager in January 2011, said he – not Comolli – has had the final say on the club’s signings since then.
“He (Comolli) has been really helpful in every transfer target we’ve gone for,” Dalglish said.
“Everyone who has come into the club since Damien has been here was of my choice.
“Once I made the choice who I wanted, Damien went away and did a fantastic job of bringing them in.”
Liverpool, one of England’s most successful clubs with 18 league titles, is a disappointing eighth in the standings with five matches left this season and plays local rival Everton in the FA Cup semifinals on Saturday.
The Reds have already won the League Cup, their first trophy in six years.
Recruited by Liverpool a month after the club’s STG300 million (then $476 million) takeover by Fenway Sports Group, Comolli is believed to have played a big role in signing Carroll for a club-record STG35 million in January 2011 despite the striker having played just one season in the English top flight.
Carroll has scored only nine goals for Liverpool in all competitions since moving to Anfield. Henderson and Downing, who are believed to have cost about STG20 million each as Liverpool largely targeted British players, have also struggled to keep first-team places at the club
Comolli previously worked for Tottenham as sporting director before departing when coach Juande Ramos was fired in 2008.
He was hailed for bringing Gareth Bale and Luka Modric to Spurs but had a strained relationship with Martin Jol, the manager at the time.
With Liverpool’s chances of finishing in the Premier League’s top four – its owners’ stated goal – over, Comolli appears to have paid the price.
Liverpool chairman Tom Werner said the club needed to “move forward,” without signalling whether Comolli’s position will be filled.
“It is important that everyone joins us in supporting the manager and gets behind Kenny, and the team and focuses on a strong finish to the season,” Werner said.
