Liverpool Ladies boss Scott Rogers begins rebuilding process

Scott Rogers is relishing life as Liverpool Ladies manager but knows he faces a challenge to get the balance of his squad right for next season.

Rogers stepped up from his role as Liverpool's assistant at the end of last month to replace Matt Beard who has taken the managerial reins at American side Boston Breakers.

Two-time champions Liverpool finished a disappointing seventh last season and the Reds have already begun the process of rebuilding their squad, after announcing Becky Easton, Katrin Omarsdottir, Ingrid Ryland and Line Smorsgard are leaving the club following the expiration of their contracts.

"I've always known that the first three or four weeks of my reign was going to be the end of Matt's season," Rogers told Sky Sports. "And that has ultimately been about looking at the squad seeing what I need to bring in and who I need to let go.

"It's been whirlwind if I'm honest with you. There's been a lot to do behind-the-scenes and a lot of that stuff is still ongoing which we must get right before January. But I've loved it. I've loved the responsibility of being in charge of a club like this and I'm very happy to be here.

"The squad finished second bottom in the league so you don't have to be a rocket scientist to work out that we need to make some changes in order to do better next year.

"The girls have been absolutely fantastic with me for the last three weeks, whether they stay or whether they go. In my transition going from assistant manager to manager I can't thank the girls enough but we need to look at making changes and we will do that."

Rogers previously managed Blackburn Rovers Ladies but was snapped up by Beard in 2012 to assist him at Liverpool when Blackburn elected not to apply for FA Women's Super League membership.

"People may think it's easier (stepping up to become manager) because you know the squad," Rogers said.

"But because as an assistant you are much closer to the squad, the decision-making on changing the squad becomes much harder. But it's not something I am worried about or afraid to do.

"At the same time it has helped because I didn't have to get to know the players. I already knew all about them and their attributes and what I want from them."

One source of optimism from last season was the emergence of a number of Liverpool's young players. Midfielder Katie Zelem and full-back Maz Pacheco amassed 33 appearances between them last term and Rogers says the duo are a key part of his plans for the future.

"We utilised a lot of young layers in the Champions League and the league so they have now got FA WSL experience and that puts us in a much stronger place going forward," he said.

"It's very important for young players to get game-time but it's also about managing it and making sure they are in an environment which is positive and successful.

"Ideally you don't want to put young players in a stressful situation where things can go quite wrong but those two in particular really stepped up to the mark. It could have gone either way but luckily it didn't. They excelled and they are going to be a big part of this club going forward."