Rush: Red faces all round

Rush accused the American tycoons of undermining the great traditions at Anfield after they admitted lining up Jurgen Klinsmann to replace Rafael Benitez as manager.

"Now people are going to say the club is a laughing stock," said Rush, who scored a record 346 goals in 640 Liverpool appearances.

He added in the Sun: "In many ways, you can understand that because this is not the way Liverpool normally do things. The tradition of the club -- and the very thing that has made them so hugely respected throughout the world -- is to do everything in-house, not out in the open like this.

"Look at Newcastle -- we certainly don't want to get like that. That's just change for the sake of it. With Harry Redknapp turning them down, it's just going to drag on and on. That doesn't help anyone.

"Now we all know that in football these days there's only one winner -- the owners. But admitting that Klinsmann was approached is poor timing and puts a lot more pressure on Rafa. It's not just upsetting for Rafa but for the players and the fans as well. Everything seemed to be dying down a bit but now it's all been blown up again."

Benitez fell out with Gillett and Hicks towards the end of last year over the clubs transfer policy and the co-owners claim their fear the Spaniard would walk away prompted them to seek "an insurance policy" in the shape of Klinsmann.

They also said they wanted to learn more about English and European football from Klinsmann, who had two spells at Tottenham as a player. But Rush questioned their motives, insisting Benitez knew far more about both areas of the game than the German.

The former striker fears Benitez will now be seen as "a dead man walking" but urged Gillett and Hicks to give him until the summer to show progress was being made at Anfield.