Brendan Rodgers agreed to become Liverpool's manager only after the owners, Fenway Sports Group, shelved plans for a sporting director in Louis van Gaal, with the 39-year-old saying he needs "to be in control of the team".

The Northern Irishman was unveiled as Kenny Dalglish's successor at Anfield having signed a three-year contract that includes an agreement not to raid Swansea City for players in the next year. He will be accompanied by three members of his back-room team from Swansea, his assistant, Colin Pascoe, the conditioning expert Glen Driscoll and the chief match analyst, Chris Davies, and those plans have prompted the departure of Dalglish's former assistant, Steve Clarke.

FSG approached several candidates for the managerial vacancy but, as Liverpool's chairman, Tom Werner, confirmed, Rodgers was the only person offered the position. However, the former Watford, and Reading manager, who rejected Liverpool's initial approach for an interview, only accepted after three meetings with FSG convinced the owners to dilute plans for a new management structure led by Louis van Gaal.

Ian Ayre, Liverpool's managing director, explained: "The structure – and Brendan is aware of this – is a more continental director of football-type structure, a collaborative group of people working around the football area." But it is one with Rodgers at the head and with control over football operations and transfers.

Liverpool's new manager said: "The owners probably spoke to one or two people about certain roles but I wanted clarity on it [the structure] and I didn't agree until after three discussions with them. I wanted to make sure it was going to be the case that I would be in charge of football matters. That I would control the team, control the work and then what we have underpinning that is a team all with one vision and one mentality – that is to make the first team better. If it was anything other than that then I couldn't have said yes because that's not my strength.

"I am better when I have control. I am not a power freak. But my point is that I need to feel that I can manage the team and have a direct clear line through to the owners. Once that becomes hazy, for me there is a problem. I don't think it was a model the owners were set on, by any means. I think it is one that people have come to them and suggested. They are still learning about the game.

"One of the items I brought up when I was speaking to the club was that I wouldn't directly work with a director of football. I feel that if you are going to do that as a club you have to do that first. That was my recommendation. If you want to have a sporting director, get him in and then you can pick your manager from there but if you do I won't be the manager."

Asked if he had 100% confidence that Liverpool will only sign players he identifies, Rodgers said: "Yes. It's absolute madness if you are the manager of the club and someone else tells you to have that player. It doesn't work. I've had total clarity with that from the guys so I've got confidence that will remain. It was for this reason that I didn't want to be sat up there, say what I've said and then in three weeks time Louis van Gaal walks in the door."

Rodgers called Steven Gerrard on Thursday to introduce himself to the Liverpool captain, and the midfielder said: "I've been kept in the loop all along by the board and the owners, and he was first-choice. So take no notice of Dave Whelan."