Gerrard to stay at Liverpool after remarkable U-turn

Jul 6, 2005, 12:07 GMT

Liverpool - Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has performed a remarkable U-turn and has decided to stay with the European champions, according to the club's chief executive Rick Parry.

On Tuesday, the 25-year-old had said he would be leaving but after a series of late-night phone-calls, Parry announced that Gerrard had changed his mind.

"Stevie's decided to stay," Parry said on Wednesday morning.

"It's a little bit like last year, only even more dramatic. In the language he used to us, he never said he wanted to go. He never said 'I wanted to go'.

"I think in the last 24 hours he has reflected on it, he's thought it through and he wants to stay.

"There were lots of late-night phone calls and early morning phone calls. I couldn't be more delighted. It is what we wanted all along."

Chelsea had offered 32 million pounds (56.3 million dollars) for Gerrard, but the offer was rejected by Liverpool and Gerrard is now set to sign a new contract worth around 100,000 pounds per week and Parry said he didn't foresee any problems.

"I think that's already hammered out. I don't think there is an issue with that any more."

"There were one or two issues with the contract which he took to mean a lack of enthusiasm on our part, which it wasn't. He understands that now. We've had some emotional moments together, cleared everything up and I don't think this will happen again.

"I don't think he's staying because he was concerned about the negative reaction. I made the point on Monday to him to think of the fans in Istanbul and ask himself how he could leave that.

"Obviously the last day or two hasn't been easy for him but this isn't a decision for negative reasons. He's found it complicated but deep down it was always a difficult decision for him to say he wanted to go.

"We're all absolutely thrilled and I'm more certain than ever that he's fully committed and that this is where he wants to be."