IAN RUSH'S hopes of landing a full-time coaching role at Anfield under Rafael Benitez may be receding.

The former Liverpool striker (right) had been due to meet with the new manager last Thursday, but the extra demands of training during the first week of pre-season plus internal discussions on potential transfer targets meant the get together never took place.

Rush had been brought in by former manager Gerard Houllier in a part-time coaching role to work with the strikers and had established a good rapport with the players, who hold him in high regard.

However Benitez arrived to start work at Melwood last Monday with his own team of coaches - Jose Ochotorena, Paco Herrera and Pako Ayestaran - while chief scout Alex Miller has also been handed more involvment in the coaching side.

Despite the departures of Phil Thompson, Sammy Lee and Joe Corrigan, that means all the full-time first team vacancies are now filled.

But it is still possible Rush will be given an extension to his part-time role, or handed a different job within the club framework.