Kenny Dalglish insists he will have no problem stepping aside this summer 'if someone better comes along'.
The man christened The King by Liverpool fans has been placed in charge of team affairs until the end of the season after Roy Hodgson left on Saturday.
And Dalglish told reporters at his unveiling today: "My understanding is it's until the end of the season and that's no problem for me. I have heard stories about demanding this and that when I was phoned on Saturday morning - but when I said I'd take the job it was a straightforward yes.
"There are no conditions, no promises - nothing.
"If I can get until the end of the season then I'll probably be one of the longest serving managers in the Premiership anyway!
"If I do really well and someone better than me comes along I have no problem whatsoever, and I won't be obstructive in any way, shape or form. I am here to be of help to the club, and if being of help to the club means Kenny Dalglish isn't the manager - not a problem."
Asked if he felt his decade-long absence from the dugout was a problem, Dalglish replied: "I don't think that's an issue. I've probably watched as many games as anyone involved in football, albeit as a spectator with a different train of thought.
"It's not as if you've gone to sleep and then you've woken up and everything's new. Football isn't like that.
"Sports science has taken a big role in football but when I went to Blackburn we introduced sports science there. I don't think at my age I'll ever get up to speed with the technology but I know what it means (and that's enough).
"At the end of the day it's about people and players. It's about your relationship with the players and your education and your experience and knowledge. Being away from the game for 10 years - the club couldn't have thought it was that bad because they brought me back to the Academy a year and a half ago."
The 59-year-old won three titles and two FA Cups in his last five-and-a-half year spell as Liverpool manager, not to mention countless trophies both in Europe and domestically while wearing the No.7 jersey.
So is he jeopardising his legendary status by returning?
"Quite the reverse," he said. "I think it would have been on the line if I never took it."
Dalglish has appointed former Chelsea assistant boss Steve Clarke as first-team coach.
"It's important we have good backroom staff and Steve comes into that category," said Dalglish.
"On the way back from Old Trafford Damien Comolli and I had a conversation and Steve's name came up. To be fair to Steve, he was phoned last night and was up here this morning for training.
"That tells you the lure of Liverpool Football Club to someone who was instrumental in the success at several clubs, nowhere less so than Mourinho's spell at Chelsea."
Reporters quizzed Dalglish on the hierarchy of the new coaching set up.
His response was: "Sammy Lee and Steve worked very well in tandem this morning. We're all in as workers - I don't know what the titles are. Steve will come in, Sammy Lee will be with him and I'll be alongside him as well.
"If we're all together and unified we've got a better chance of succeeding."
Jamie Carragher was in the Old Trafford dugout alongside Dalglish yesterday.
On whether the No.23 would now take a coaching role, he said: "Carragher is doing his badges, he did them at the Academy. I am sure long term he wants to get involved in football and I'm sure he will.
"Right at this particular moment in time he's on his way back from his dislocated shoulder and progressing very well. He's not even in for training.
"It was great to see him because he's someone who knows what this club stands for and for him to come and show his support for the boys at Old Trafford, that tells you something about the person.
"As I've said, there will be discussions that happen after this but right at this moment in time the appointment of Steve is all we've got to say.
"That's not to dismiss in any way, shape or form anything else you have in your mind.
"There are answers that have to be given but unfortunately today we haven't been given enough time to give definitive answers."
Asked if he'll bring in any new players, Dalglish quipped: "Just give me a break!
"I wouldn't know definitively yes or no."
Director of Football Strategy Damien Comolli was sitting alongside Dalglish at the press conference, and he was asked who would have the final say on any January transfers: "I will stick to what I said from the beginning: if Kenny is not happy with a player we think could make the team better then it's always down to the manager. That hasn't changed.
"We didn't even have chance to talk about the transfer window yet. We have been working on it with Roy and the owners but I need to update Kenny on what's going on.
"Will there be some activity? I don't know. I still don't know. It's a very complicated market in January."
Meanwhile, Ryan Babel caused controversy on Sunday by posting a mocked up picture of referee Howard Webb in a Manchester United shirt.
Probed on the matter, Dalglish said: "It's only a bit of fun, isn't it? That's as far as I would go."
Once again journalists were interested in Dalglish's view of Fernando Torres this season.
"For the games I've been in charge he's been brilliant!" joked The King. "Playing up front on his own he worked tirelessly. Someone asked me yesterday if I had a magic wand but I don't need one - he's got one.
"He's still a top goalscorer and he's still someone everybody fears when his boots go across the line onto the pitch.
"This football club has never been about one individual. It's about a collection and a team - and we are a team. There is no I in team. It's up to us to help Fernando as much as we can but also help each other."
Dalglish was questioned on whether everyone in the dressing room knows what it means to play for Liverpool Football Club.
"There isn't anyone in the dressing room who doesn't understand admire and respect the history and traditions of the football club - even the lads who came in the summer fully understand it," said the caretaker boss." I don't think it's a problem for them to understand what this football club means to an awful lot of people.
"They themselves have a lot of pride in their performances and they'll want to do it for themselves and for the people who come and support us."
One of the last questions put to Dalglish was what his wife Marina made of it all.
He said: "It was actually her that wanted to be manager! She was so successful last time! I think she phoned Ian Ayre and said 'Please'."
Author: Jimmy Rice at Anfield
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