John Barnes has told the Liverpool owners that they could be waiting another 20 years to land the Premier League title if they do not afford managers enough time to get things right.

Wigan Athletic manager Roberto Martinez is due to hold talks with the Fenway Sports Group following Kenny Dalglish's departure last week.

There are other names rumoured to be on the American's hitlist, including Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp.

Barnes, who played for the Reds for 10 years, believes that the club must stick to a clear long-term plan rather than chop and change every two or three years if they are to achieve success.

"If the club believes in a new philosophy then they need to stick with it, regardless of how well or badly we do in the short-term," Barnes told the club's official website.

"If it takes two, three or four years to fulfil the plan then we need to give the club time to realise it and make it happen, but it won't take as long as Liverpool fans have been waiting to see the team win the Premier League.

"Maybe if a system was put in place 20 years ago we wouldn't still be waiting to win our first title since 1990. If we keep changing the manager, the players or the system every one, two, three or four years, we could be waiting another 20 years to win the title too."

The former England international winger has been without a club since being sacked as manager of Tranmere Rovers in 2009.