Rafa and Rick clear the air

Reds boss has no issues with the board

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 21st August 2008

rafa benitez rick parry

Parry & Benitez: No rift

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Rafa Benitez and Rick Parry have held talks in order to draw a line under the Gareth Barry saga.

The chase for the Aston Villa midfielder has seen the relationship between the Liverpool boss and the club's chief executive break down in recent weeks.

Benitez is frustrated by the board's inability to secure the signing of one of his top summer transfer targets and has questioned the speed in which the club do business.

His quotes were seen in some quarters as criticism of Parry, although it has since emerged that the Anfield chief executive was not alone in his reluctance to finance an £18million move for Barry.

Positive

American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett are thought to have decreed that the England international was not worth the inflated price-tag Villa were demanding.

There were fears that club's hierarchy was beginning to crack beyond repair, but Benitez insists that everyone at Anfield is heading in the same direction.

"Clear the air talks have taken place," the Spaniard told the Liverpool Echo.

"It was a positive discussion and we will now move forward together."