SOCCER:Rafael Benitez lost the most trusted member of his managerial team yesterday when Pako Ayestaran, his confidant and assistant for the past 11 years, quit following a series of disputes with the manager.

Liverpool's assistant manager tendered his resignation to Benitez after being confronted over reports linking the 44-year-old with a return to his native Spain. Although he has not formally severed his ties with the club, Ayestaran will not be on the bench next to Benitez for today's Premier League game at home to Derby and his departure will be confirmed once his contractual situation has been resolved.

"He said that maybe he would like to leave the club and we are now analysing the situation," was as much as Benitez was prepared to divulge on the matter yesterday, though the depth of his grievance with his friend is acute.

Ayestaran first worked alongside Benitez more than a decade ago and their fortunes have risen in tandem, winning promotion to Spain's top flight with Tenerife, two league titles and a Uefa Cup at Valencia before moving to Liverpool together in 2004, where their successful relationship saw victories in the Champions League and the FA Cup.

It is Ayestaran, a qualified fitness coach, who is credited with the rotation policy that has brought criticism and silverware for Benitez at the Mestalla Stadium and Anfield and he has been instrumental in the improved fitness and sports science methods brought to Liverpool. The charts that detail the minutes Liverpool players have performed each season, and which line Benitez's office at Melwood and influence his selection policy, are an Ayestaran trademark.

The assistant manager has also been used as a sounding board for tactical and technical advice by Benitez who, with his team unbeaten in the Premier League and Champions League qualifiers, admitted the departure came at the worst possible time.

Benitez added: "Eleven years we have worked together but now we must analyse the situation. I know things but the best thing now is to say nothing and wait. I think he will go but I don't think he will be at the game tomorrow."

Ayestaran's resignation is understood to have followed a series of disagreements between the pair, including changes to Liverpool's pre-season training schedule as Benitez sought to avoid a repeat of the team's poor start to last season, but reports linking the coach with a return to Valencia brought matters to a head after training on Thursday.

He had been strongly tipped to take up a director of football role at Athletic Bilbao in the summer depending on the outcome of the Basque club's presidential election. The candidate with whom Ayestaran was associated lost and though Benitez believed that would be the end of the uncertainty surrounding his friend and colleague he has been dismayed at fresh reports of interest from Valencia.

The Liverpool manager opted to confront Ayestaran over the Valencia link on Thursday. His assistant announced he no longer wished to work for the Anfield club and the Liverpool squad were informed of the development yesterday.

Benitez expressed his surprise yesterday at Jermaine Pennant's exclusion from the England squad to face Israel and Russia in the forthcoming European Championship qualifiers but believes the omission could prove to Liverpool's benefit.

"I have a lot of respect for Steve McClaren's decision but I am sure Jermaine must be very close to the national team," said Benitez. "He is improving and maturing all the time."