Former Liverpool first-team coach Steve Clarke admits he feels sympathy for Kenny Dalglish, who was sacked by the Merseysiders last month.
Sacking highlights ruthless nature of Premier League
Former Liverpool first-team coach Steve Clarke admits he feels sympathy for Kenny Dalglish, who was sacked by the Merseysiders last month.
Clarke moved to the Reds in January 2010 to work alongside Dalglish, who had made a dramatic return to the Anfield hot-seat 19 years after he had first quit the post.
The former Scotland international led the Reds to Carling Cup success and the final of the FA Cup last season but paid the price for a disappointing Premier League campaign.
The Merseysiders finished eighth, 17 points adrift of Tottenham in the final Champions League place.
That failure to challenge for the top four positions prompted Liverpool's owners, the Fenway Sports Group, to sack Dalglish just days after the final game of the season.
Clarke admitted he felt some sympathy for his compatriot, especially as Liverpool is a club close to Dalglish's heart.
"I was disappointed for Kenny because that is his club and for him to leave in that way was not very nice for him, so I felt a little bit for Kenny," he said.
Standards
"But if you don't achieve the standards or the levels of the people who run the club want you to achieve, you have to pay the price."
Clarke's departure from Anfield was confirmed at the start of June when new Reds boss Brendan Rodgers brought his backroom team up from old side Swansea.
He wasn't unemployed for long, however, as just days later he was appointed new West Brom manager, his first managerial role.
The Scot admits that after witnessing first-hand the ruthless nature of Premier League football management, he knows he will have to get results quickly if he is to keep his job.
"Football has changed. The whole structure of football has changed," he added.
"Success has to be instant and has to be on a level expected at whatever club you are at - look at the Harry Redknapp situation at Tottenham."
