Reds revamp coaching staff

London – Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers moved to reinforce his depleted coaching set-up with the left field appointment of Sean O’Driscoll (above) and the promotion of Pepijn Lijnders from the academy.

O’Driscoll, sacked by Championship side Bristol City 18 month ago, leaves his head coach position with the England under-19s to become Rodgers’ assistant following the sacking of Colin Pascoe after a urgent review of a disappointing season by the club’s American owners.

The Fenway Sports Group also decided to dismiss first-team coach Mike Marsh following the evaluation in Boston last month but Rodgers was kept on despite a trophy-less campaign and sixthplace league finish.

“I have made these appointments because I want to take us in a new technical direction, in terms of coaching,” Rodgers said in a statement yesterday.

“I believe the entire first-team set-up will benefit and I am extremely positive and excited about what we can achieve as a group going forward.”

The Northern Irishman came under heavy pressure last year after failing to match the heights of the previous title-challenging campaign following the sale of talismanic striker Luis Suarez to Barcelona.

A vast outlay on new signings failed to fi ll the void left by Suarez’s departure and a disappointing Champions League campaign ended at the group stage, while a meek exit to Aston Villa in the FA Cup semifinals ended any hopes of silverware.

The former Swansea City, Watford and Reading boss was also criticised for his constant tinkering with tactics and personnel through the campaign. –