When Gerard Houllier was appointed as joint Liverpool manager in summer 1998, the writing seemed to be on the wall for Roy Evans.
Bootle-born Evans had been in sole charge at Anfield since 1994, but the club's decision to bring in the Frenchman alongside him was viewed by many as undermining.
Ultimately, the cynics were proven to be correct as Evans announced 16 years ago today that he was ending an almost 40-year association with Liverpool, which had seen him represent the Reds as a player, coach and manager.
Evans stepped down following successive defeats at the hands of Leicester City, Derby County and Tottenham Hotspur, but he was quick to stress at a press conference that the relationship between himself and Houiller was not a sour one, more that the situation was confusing for the players.
"It is not a matter of one man taking the blame. It is what is in the best interests of the club. I went into the partnership with Gerard with my eyes open and hoping it could work. It hasn't worked. Results have not gone our way," he said.
"It is not about the relationship between me and Gerard. It had nothing to do with personalities. It just did not work out. You just feel it is not the right formula for players. They do not know who the boss is."
Under Evans's management, Liverpool finished third in the Premier League on two occasions and fourth a further two times, as well as winning the League Cup and reaching the final of the FA Cup.
Yet, for a club of Liverpool's consistent trophy-winning credentials of years gone by, there were some that declared that the then 50-year-old's stint had been largely a failure - something that he disputed.
"I'd like to thank the chairman and board for the support they have given me. I have felt over the past three or four weeks that things have not been working out. I dispute the theory that my time here has been a failure - fourth, third, fourth, third in my seasons here is not failure. That record is second only to Alex Ferguson at Manchester United."
Meanwhile, chairman David Moores added: "Today is a sad day for Liverpool and me personally. We have agreed by mutual consent that Roy and Doug Livermore, his assistant, are leaving the club. I would like to pay tribute to all he has done for the club for 35 years. I offered Roy another position at the club but he has chosen to have a break. I could talk for hours about Roy and my respect for him."
Evans returned to the game in a month-long caretaker role at Fulham in 2000, before being appointed the director of football at Swindon Town a year later. He has also had spells as the assistant manager of the Welsh national side and Wrexham.
Liam Apicella
