Neil Jones' Liverpool Exclusive Interview : Joey Jones On Why The Critics Should Lay Off Rafa Benitez

Photo Gallery

Zoom

Rafael Benitez - Liverpool (Getty Images)

Related Links

Teams

• Liverpool

As a player, he was often compared with Michel Platini. Ok, so the comparison was more to do with the fact that both wore their socks around their ankles, but still Joey Jones was something of a legend at Anfield. The fact that he inspired arguably the greatest fan banner of all time is testament to this.

Jones may have spent just three seasons at Liverpool, between 1975 and 1978, but in that time he picked up two league championships, and a European Cup, becoming a firm favourite of the Kop with his no-nonsense attitude to tackling.

These-days, he is the youth team coach at Blue Square Premier outfit Wrexham, where he is equally revered. But despite having left Anfield more than 21 years ago, the genial Welshman admits he will “always be a Liverpool supporter” and that he “wants nothing more than to see the club be successful”.

Yet, while many other ex-Liverpool stars – most recently Ronnie Whelan and Graeme Souness – have been queuing up to stick the knife into beleaguered boss Rafa Benitez, Jones prefers to take a more measured view, and believes that the Spaniard is still the man for the job.

“I am not one for criticism, or to be calling for people’s heads,” says Jones. “It is a tough job to manage a club at any level, and it is very easy for people to sit and criticise without knowing the full story.

"Sometimes change can be a good thing, but not always. And when people talk of getting rid of Rafa Benitez, there doesn’t seem to be a replacement in mind. Who would replace Benitez at Liverpool?

“Of course when a side endures a bad run, such as Liverpool’s of late, then pressure is always going to mount on the manager, which is just a way of the world. But at times like this it is important for everyone to rally round, and I am sure that Rafa Benitez will turn things around and make Liverpool successful again.”

Jones is clearly passionate about the club he supported as a teenager, and admits to having signed up to the ‘Spirit of Shankly’ supporters’ union, though he refrains from offering a critique of Liverpool’s ownership duo, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, unlike many of his fellow members.

“I became a member [of Spirit of Shankly] because I believe in what they stand for,” he says, “I admit I don’t know too much about the politics and the background, but in terms of their principles and what they believe, I am right behind them.”

In his role at Wrexham, Jones often uses the example of his own rise from Third Division journeyman to European Cup winner as an inspiration for young players, but admits that such fairy stories are far less likely these-days, in the mega-bucks world of modern football.

However, the Llandudno-born full-back believes that it will not be long before clubs begin to look into the lower divisions as part of their recruitment programs.

Jones reveals that Liverpool have already snared one promising youngster from his Wrexham youth side (and, typically, refuses to name him out of respect), and expects many clubs to follow their lead in the future.

“I think it will eventually come full circle,” he says, “Even now, at Wrexham’s youth and reserve games, we get scouts from big Premier League clubs looking at our lads. I am always telling the players that if you are good enough, you will make it to the top. I really believe that.

“Clubs like Liverpool have a great tradition of taking lower league players and making them stars – think Ian Rush, Jimmy Case, and Steve Heighway for example – but it is getting harder and harder to produce players with the money and the pressure. But the talent is out there, and I genuinely believe that in a few years’ time we will see players moving from the lower leagues to big clubs more regularly.”

As for Jones’ Wrexham side, they, like Liverpool, have had a mixed season but under the guidance of another ex-Red, Dean Saunders, he is confident that they can begin to rebuild as they look to return to the Football League, having been relegated in 2008.

“It has been a difficult season,” admits Jones, “But we are five unbeaten at the moment and really looking to push on. Deano has such passion and enthusiasm for the job, and he is looking to instil that in his players.

“Perhaps it is a case of some players struggling to adapt to non-league football, and perhaps the physicality of the league makes it hard for us to play our passing game, but Dean has incredible enthusiasm and belief, and everyone at the club shares that. Hopefully we will be back in the Football League soon.”

Neil Jones, Goal.com UK