LIVERPOOL legend Kenny Dalglish was sacked as manager of the club Wednesday in a dramatic move by the club’s owners following a disappointing Premier League campaign.

    The 61-year-old Scot, who had returned for a second stint as manager at Anfield in January last year, paid the price for a dismal season, which saw Liverpool finish 37 points behind champion Manchester City.

    The Merseyside club’s American owners the Fenway Sports Group (FSG) had given Dalglish more than 100 million pounds (US$159 million) to spend in the transfer market since he took over from the sacked Roy Hodgson in 2011.

    But expensive signings such as Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing, Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam have largely flopped, with Liverpool’s eighth place finish, their worst season-ending position in nearly two decades.

    “Fenway Sports Group and Liverpool Football Club announce that Kenny Dalglish is to leave his post today as manager after having his contract terminated,” a joint statement said.

    “After a careful and deliberative review of the season the club came to the decision that a change was appropriate.

    “It is not a decision that was reached lightly or hastily.

    “The search for a new manager will begin immediately.”

    Dalglish remains an iconic figure among Liverpool’s supporters following an association with the club that straddles five decades.

    He was a key figure in the club’s 1970s and 1980s glory years, a spell that saw him win eight league titles as player and manager between 1979 and 1990, as well as European Cups in 1978, 1981 and 1984.

    Dalglish is also revered for leading Liverpool through the dark days following the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, attending many of the funerals of the 96 fans who perished in the tragedy, including four in one day.(SD-Agencies)