There is an old story about the way contracts were handled at Liverpool, one which details a clever trick, laying bare the smart thinking which helped the club stay ahead of the game.



In the limey corridors of Anfield’s main stand, players were asked to wait outside the manager’s office after initial discussions. Many recall their disappointment with the financial incentives presented to them by the former secretary, Peter Robinson, who prided himself on his thriftiness. He also knew Liverpool were Liverpool and their reputation alone could afford to bring the ones they really wanted their way.



That is when the manager would wander past and promise he’d have a word with Robinson and squeeze a bit more money out of him.



“Tight bugger,” Bill Shankly would tut, or Bob Paisley after him.



Swiftly, either of those managers would return having fulfilled his promise and instantly the player was more on his side than he was...