Jürgen Klopp has welcomed Liverpool’s decision to install a sporting director after Michael Edwards’ appointment was confirmed on Friday.

Edwards has been promoted from technical director to sporting director at Anfield as part of a restructuring of the club’s football operation and will take the lead role on future transfer negotiations. He worked alongside Ian Ayre on deals in the summer but, with the chief executive leaving next year, the 37-year-old will assume greater responsibility on transfers in the newly created role. Edwards’ duties will also include a review and improvements of Melwood training ground, with the club looking to bring the first team and academy together on one site.

Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool’s owner, has been impressed by Edwards’ impact on player recruitment at all levels of the club from the academy to development squad to the first team. Klopp, who worked alongside a sporting director at both Borussia Dortmund and Mainz, expressed his support for Edwards’ appointment, saying: “This decision is hugely positive for us. It will make us better and stronger in managing the process of building and retaining playing talent at all age groups. Development is so important and it makes sense to have a position, within the football structure specifically, that focuses on where we can improve.

“It’s no secret I like the concept of a sporting director and having worked under this model previously I have found it to be nothing but positive and forward thinking. Michael is absolutely the right person for this. He has the knowledge, expertise and personality to flourish in the role and I was delighted when he told me he would be accepting the position. Importantly, he also has a fantastic team of people around him, who have all played a significant role in putting together the talent we currently have in the first team, development squad and at even younger age levels.”

Klopp confirmed the new management structure would not change his influence on transfers and that he would retain the final say on signings. He said: “If somebody is not happy with whatever and you ask: ‘Is that your player or his player?’ It’s always my player. I can’t blame anyone for anything. I can take the pressure. In this business, the manager is not allowed to be a one-man show. I’m a specialist in football things, I know a lot, but not everything like finances. I like to have the best people around me and Michael is for sure one of the best I have met.”

The Liverpool manager also claimed the appointment of a sporting director would help maintain stability at Anfield in the event of any managerial upheaval. “What we try to create is a structure for LFC,” he explained. “This wonderful club changed philosophy three or four times in the last 10-15 years because different managers came in and say: ‘Let’s do this, let’s change that.’ That’s the English way of doing of things – a new manager comes in and you have to change everything. Football managers get sacked because results are not good but a lot of things around them could have been good. We have tried to create a situation where everything around is perfect. If the manager changes in the future, this club will have a good base.”

Edwards, who joined Liverpool in November 2011 and has been part of the club’s transfer committee, said Klopp’s backing was “a big factor in me making the decision to accept this position”. He added: “It’s critical that we are always focused on development and improvement across all areas of the football operation.”

FSG’s president, Mike Gordon, commented: “Michael is an extremely talented football executive who has demonstrated his exceptional value to the club. Both Jürgen and I know LFC will be stronger as a result of his appointment. When Jürgen was named manager, he was clear that the high quality of our playing squad was an important factor in his decision process; Michael has been integral to assembling the squad and we are confident he is ready to make this next step in his career.”