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Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group insist Ian Ayre will remain as the club's chief executive until the end of the season.

The 53-year-old has been lined up as the new general manager at German second division club TSV 1860 Munich but that won't lead to an early exit from Anfield.

Boyhood Reds fan Ayre announced back in March that he would be stepping down when his current contract expires in May 2017 and that remains the case.

FSG senior executives have been fully aware that Ayre has been holding talks with Jordanian businessman Hasan Ismaik, who is the 1860 Munich's majority shareholder.

Ismaik is planning a big shake-up in order to push for promotion to the Bundesliga in 2017/18 and targeted Ayre to be part of it.

FSG president Mike Gordon has worked with Ayre to ensure that no conflict of interest or potential distraction was allowed to result from the process.

Liverpool's global search for Ayre's successor is ongoing and Gordon's priority is to ensure the transition to a new chief executive has no detrimental impact on the day to day running and management of the club.

Ayre has reaffirmed that he remains fully committed to his role until next May – despite the outside interest in securing his services.

“We want to get the best people to help us,” Ismaik told Bavarian newspaper Munchner Merkur.

“Peter Cassalette (club president) and I have led the conversations with him. He is the right person for our future.

“The fact that we were able to convince such a big name to come from a world association to 1860, we are proud. That was not easy,

“When he found out about the tradition of the club, he was very enthusiastic.”

Ayre joined Liverpool in 2007 as commercial director and was promoted to managing director in 2011 and then chief executive in 2013.