Hicks slams shut doors of reconciliation at Liverpool
It’s a bit unfortunate that we’re not privy to behind-the-scenes machinations at Liverpool, particularly when it comes to the current owners.
It would be so much easier if we knew exactly why relations between Hicks and Gillett deteriorated (although all hints point to the way Hicks has dealt with the press over several issues), or why Parry has now been asked to step down by Hicks.
As things stand, we have only press reports and a few quotes here and there to go on. On that basis, one thing is clear:
Tom Hicks is incapable of reconciling differences over control of Liverpool - and his inept handling will keep dragging Liverpool into mud unless he goes.
The man has alienated supporters with his open admission of courting a replacement for Benitez (where were the PR advisors then?), he has alienated his partner over (presumably) the DIC deal, he has alienated the DIC with his bid to retain control of the club and he has now alienated the only person who, at least in public, was presenting a neutral facade - Rick Parry.
I don’t care much for Parry - Liverpool’s strength at this point is in their manager, fans and players (in that order), and the rest is based on a specific system of doing things (scouting, transfers, day-to-day club management, youth academy, etc) that can be handled by other ‘management’ types.
But by going after Parry, Hicks has thrown away whatever little chance he had to retain long-term control of Liverpool. If Hicks had tried to improve relations - either by holding a press conference here in England or by taking sincere steps to restore stability at the top of the club - he might stood a chance. Football has proven that it takes a very special performance (on the pitch or off it) to bring fans around, and although Hicks shows no signs of being capable of turning things around, he still had that sliver of a chance.
Parry’s response was swift and dignified:
“It is my intention to remain focused on the job of serving Liverpool Football Club to the best of my abilities at this very important time of our season.”
And there you have it - Hicks isn’t focused on serving Liverpool, he’s focused on having Liverpool serve him. Even if he’s in this for money, appearances are worth gold and at this point Hicks has done nothing to improve his image as a greedy bastard who wants to milk the club and the fans for every last penny.
Parry could still go - if Hicks and Gillett agree to it - but that doesn’t help Liverpool one bit. There were two ways out of this before - DIC or a possible reconciliation with the fans. Now, the best thing for Hicks would be to get out of this with a profit as quickly as possible - unless he’s seen the light and decides to treat fans and club with some respect.
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Discussion - 7 Responses
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I understand where you are coming from, and I agree to your sentiments about Hicks, but do not be fooled by Parry. Ask yourself who leaked the details of the letter and why. I doubt if it was Hicks, although I may be wrong. My suspicion is that it was Parry, to make him look like the victim and allow him to come out with the above statement, making him look good. If rumours are to be believed and I am inclined to believe this one, Parry instigated the takeover by the Yanks because he had been told by DIC that he would be replaced, it is his fault they are in control. He is now trying to save face by going behind their back to get DIC in, just to look like the hero. Don’t be fooled!!. Hicks and Gillett need to go but so does Parry. Which other Chief Exec would allow the commercial side of a brand as big as Liverpool FC to be so poor. That is why we had to look for buyers in the first place because we did not have enough money coming in from the commercial side.
Absolutely and fully agree with Ahmed Bilal’s assesment.
ianstoppo - Parry does have to go but now is not the time to bring his position into question and especially by Hicks who doesnt have the power necessary on his own to make this happen.
Hicks knows that the general concensous amongst the Liverpool fans is that they want Parry out and there has been alot of criticism rightly levelled at Parry in the last few years but I just wonder is the timing of this request not a desperate attempt by Hicks to once again appease the Liverpool fans whilst also diverting attention away on his own struggle with the fans protest.
Also i just wonder on the day that DIC announce they have pulled ut of any deal for Liverpool this story breaks. Clearly Liverpool fans would have been angered at the prospect of this and it probably would have caused further Anti Hicks protests. However any announcement by DIC has been overshadowed by Hicks attempt to fire Parry.
For me its a simple case for the fans of first concentrating on getting Hicks out of this club and then deal with Parry.
There is no doubt that the Yanks should burn across the atlantic with their baseball and leave football, soccer for all you yanks, alone. Americans have never been interested in true football just how much money could be made due to the vast amounts of fans there is around the world. Baseball is no where near as popular so the one and only motivation is to milk as much money out of Liverpool as possible in order to finance his American sports empire.
It has to be said Parry is not someone I would want within the club, his performance at the club is very poor considering the commercial side of things, Liverpool should have been a much bigger brand aboard than what it is now.
In addition he bought in the Yanks to suit him because of his comfy well paid job and was very fearful of actually losing it. Parry has become like a cancer to the club, a slow and painful one. Until these people are out and replaced with true lovers of the club i refuse to give me hard earned money to these yanks. I’ve voiced my opinions on other sites before that success stems from the top down. It’s always worked like this. Stability and confidence from the top is seen from everyone within the hierarchy. We have none of this, and have become a laughing stock to the whole world. All of Liverpools values have gone, in the past we hardly heard about boardroom battles and mistrust with each other. It shows how bad its got and everyone knows it.
Gillet for me has always been in it for the money, everyone is these days and i can understand that to some extent, but burdening the club with huge debt is unaceptable. They say its the quiet ones you need to be careful and he is no different.
Hicks is your typical big mouth yank who really deserves the worst in life. At least the one thing is clear its black and white with him, he has to leave period.
And lets not forget about this so called stadium, this has all but been forgotton, we dont have the money for it and I said this from the very first day I heard how they bought the club. Its funny how the yanks bought Liverpol, promised the world then realised their dollars are not worth toilet paper and things are having to take a back seat? It was always their intention to do this in the hope they would sell Liverpool for a profit.
Let me bet you one of those stinky $1 that there will be no stadium built under the current set up. Even if it were built which i very much doubt in the current financial markets, Liverpool will end up like Leeds or much worse financially. The costs of today have gone through the roof and we could never service the debt.
Liverpool are treading on very thin ice and its just a matter of time before things really do collapse. Expect to see alot more arguments and under belt punches over the coming months. Should make great news for the media not to mention all the other teams and managers laughing all the way to more success and money at our expense.
Juan - The question I want to know the answer to is: Who “leaked” the letter? If it was Hicks then he is an even bigger muppet than I have given him credit for. If however it was from Parry’s side the question has to be asked why, and this is what I was saying. Has he done it to make himself look good ‘I am only concentrating on the club etc.’, and to deflect some of the criticism away from him.
By the way DIC have not gone away they have just backed off until the Hicks/Gillet thing is sorted.
ianstoppo - it will be interesting to see who has leaked the letter. If Parry is to be belived he learned of the letter through Sky Sports, and if the echo is to be believed the letter will only arrive at Parrys office today. For me that goes some way to vindicating Parry from any blame with regards any leaking of the letter. I know as the saying goes “theres more than one way to skin a cat” so you could argue that Parry wants to give off the perception that he didnt know of the letters existance whereas he actually did. I think from the evidence we have seen so far the leak has not come from Parrys side. But then Who?
Hicks - But Why Leak? A PR stunt to overshadow DIC announcement of stepping back from the negotiating table? Perhaps he is trying to apease the fans? Or maybe hes just that pissed off to see PArry and Gilette sat beside each other for the Arsenal game but there would be no reason to leak the letters existance.
In fact the more you think about it this letter is after appearing very soon after the Arsenal Liverpool game at which Tom Hicks Jnr would have witnessed first hand Parry and Gilette sat taking the evening events in together. Whether there would have been any contact that evening between Parry/Gillette camp and the Hicks camp who knows but something has triggered this letter and someone has wanted it leaked.
Who or why is still anyones guess but I am moving away from the idea that it was Parry himself who leaked.
The unfortunate thing about the whole lot is again we’re left taking about boardroom politics after one of the truly great nights in Liverpools history.
Hicks out now, and then parry can follow……..
Juan - Fair point, and, I agree with the final sentiments. The sooner it happens the better, and hopefully we will get honourable men in, like DIC, who will still treat the club like a business, but who will also sort this mess out once and for all and keep all the dealings behind closed doors, like we used to do..