Bookies Suspend Betting on Rafa Leaving Liverpool Due to Sudden Influx of Bets

Several leading bookmakers have suspended all bets on Rafael Benitez not being Liverpool manager by the start of the new season. The last 24 hours have seen a very large amount of money suddenly being placed on the Spaniard to leave the club.

Last nght he was an outside 20-1 chance to leave, but this morning all bets were off as the bookies closed the book on Rafa Benitez leaving the club.

Normally, when people get wind of rumours from inside a club, there is activity in betting patterns that indicate that something will be happening.

Bookies have witnessed a great many supporters favouring the Liverpool manager to either be the next Premier League manager to be sacked or that he will walk in the summer, suggesting that there is inside knowledge that has confirmed the news.

If Rafael Benitez does leave, it will be a bitter blow for Liverpool as they have been making serious progress in the rebuilding of the club as a dominant force in both Europe and more recently the English domestic league.

Since taking over in the summer of 2004, Rafael Benitez has transformed the club and made them a great European team once again with consistent performances that have seen them take home the European Cup in 2005, alongside another final appearance and a semi-final defeat in his four seasons in charge.

Rafa has struggled a little more with his hunt for the clubs first league title in 19 years but has shown progression every season in many areas and is proving that he will eventually lead the club back to the top of the English domestic league.

After many public boardroom arguments with Chief Executive, Rick Parry and the new American owners, Benitez has had a difficult time trying to do his job properly and has been hampered at every turn as he looks to rebuild the club to its former glory.

The news that betting patterns are indicating that someone knows something about the possible departure of Benitez at some point in the near future will be welcomed by many of Liverpool's rivals.

This will clearly have an affect on the club and its future, as it will mean several steps back in the rebuilding programme and it comes at a time when Liverpool are preparing for their Champions League knockout game against inform Real Madrid in Spain tonight.

There is of course the possibility that these are just the usual rumours that have surrounded the Liverpool manager over the last couple of seasons and may just be a rouse to try and unsettle him and his team.

Whatever happens, its just another twist in the ongoing public sideshow that is Liverpool Football Club.