Few fans would begrudge Rafael Benitez if he were to look towards securing the best possible pay-off should he be relieved of his job. Even so, the revelations by Richard Bevan that the League Managers’ Association has been in contact with Benitez to offer him assistance and support, is disconcerting.

Not, however, because this signals that he is thinking about leaving his job – as today’s media has spun it – but because it will simply heap on added pressure on Benitez. What the club needs most at the moment is a period away from the spotlight and some stability not people like Bevan providing the media with soundbites that he knows (or should know) will be taken of context.

Apart from obvious questions regarding betrayal of confidentiality, by saying that Benitez has sought their assistance but not specifying exactly what that concerned, he was sending out an open invitation for all and sundry to speculate. For what we know, the assistance could have been about something simple like getting membership but, put in the context of what is happening at the club, will be taken to mean that it surrounds his position as manager.

So what was the point of mentioning Benitez and Liverpool other than winning a few bonus points with whoever was listening by bringing up a familiar name? Is that really how the League Managers Association wants to get some publicity?