Thompson's Anfield pay-off

LIVERPOOL have agreed a GBP28,000 pay-out for former coach Phil Thompson - providing he stays silent on his sacking last year from the English Premier League club.

In return, it has been disclosed, he has dropped his claim for unfair dismissal.

The deal was hammered out between Thompson's solicitor, the club's lawyers and industrial arbitrators.

Thompson's solicitor Richard Green said: ''Phil wasn't threatening to go public on what happened. He would never say anything to harm Liverpool. The club wanted the clause there to protect their own interests.'' Thompson, who played 450 times for Liverpool and captained the side, was not available to comment.