Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has spoken of his delight at pinning manager Rafael Benitez down to a new five-year contract and insisted he was "never worried" about his future.



Hicks has, unlike George Gillett, been a staunch supporter of Benitez throughout the troubled times and contract wrangle. And he, like Benitez, was concerned about the role being played by chief executive Rick Parry. Although Parry will leave Anfield in the summer it could be six-nine months before the Reds install a full-time replacement.

While there are as yet no firm plans over the proposed new stadium in Stanley Park, Hicks was adamant the project would eventually come to fruition.

"I was never worried we would lose Rafa Benitez,'' Hicks told Sky Sports News, with the Spanish coach now signed up until 2014. "These things are complicated. A five-year contract is complicated, so I'm just relieved we finally got it done.

"From the supporters' point of view, to have it done on top of such a great week on the pitch is great. We have a chance to catch Manchester United. It's not a great chance, but it's a chance.

"Rafa is going to be here for the next five years, I know I am going to be here for the next five years.

"And George, I think, will be here for the next five years although I cannot speak for him. But we want to be here when the new stadium is open because we want to build that sucker.

"The financial markets shut down (before Christmas) and we could not get the funds. But they will open again and we will get the money.

"I cannot predict the capital markets, but the stadium is very much something we plan to do. It is not being mothballed, it is going to happen.''

Hicks played down long-running reports that the delay was down to a power struggle - and in particular disagreement over transfer policy.

He said: "That was never really true. I sat down with Rafa a couple of months ago and he made it very clear that he knows a manager can't have control over transfer budget.

"He has had his frustrations over the last five years and those are well chronicled but he will make the recommendations about which players we sign and the new chief executive, the owners and the board will make the final financial commitment. And that is the way it needs to be.''

"If you look back at the last two years, we have followed his recommendations. We signed Fernando Torres, extended Jose Reina, signed Yossi Benayoun, Ryan Babel, Martin Skrtel, Javier Mascherano and Andrea Dossena.

"We even signed (Robbie) Keane and that didn't work out. I know we want to re-sign (Daniel) Agger. I think that Rafa is not worried about that.

"Rafa is a professional. He knows he has to work to a budget. A budget will be set every year based on revenues.

"A new chief executive will communicate more effectively with Rafa and other members of senior management. I feel very good about the direction of the club right now.

"We are going to take our time (with the search for a new chief executive). We want to make sure we get it right. It may take six months."