Liverpool v Blackburn: Tom Hicks overshadowing fine week on the field

Apr 12 2008 Ian Doyle

LIVERPOOL proved that timing was everything on Tuesday night. But not for the first time this season, Tom Hicks showed he has scant regard for such a philosophy.

The euphoria had barely died down on the dramatic late Champions League victory over Arsenal when a letter from the American co-owner landed on the desk of Rick Parry on Thursday.

The document demanded the Anfield chief executive to resign from his post, citing a failure to maximise commercial potential and frustration at the handling of transfer deals.

Parry swiftly rejected any calls to leave, and yesterday received the backing of George Gillett.

The shared ownership agreement means Hicks cannot hire and fire without the say-so of his co-owner.

Instead, the Texan’s gesture was the latest attempt to land a telling blow in the fight for power inside the Anfield boardroom.

And in doing so this week, he demonstrated once again how out of touch he is with the Liverpool supporters.

The last thing fans wanted after such a memorable night on the field was for the watching world to be reminded of the utter turmoil off it.

This is a club now at war with itself, with Hicks seemingly intent on casting himself as the bad guy given the PR gaffes he continues to commit.

Hicks obviously values Liverpool – at least in terms of monetary value – very highly, such is his determination to hold and strengthen his powerbase, the cash cow of the proposed new Anfield the reason for his stubbornness not to let go.

Which makes the timing of his latest move, one that has further destabilised the club just as the team harbours genuine hope of another lucrative European Cup triumph, all the more baffling.

That said, there are many who share similar misgivings as Hicks over Parry, not least regarding the commercial aspect of the club, while fans have not forgiven the chief executive for the manner in which he handled the Athens ticket furore last year.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has also been critical of Parry’s ability in the transfer market, although such grievances were kept private until Hicks laid bare the details in his leaked letter on Thursday.

That gave the impression Benitez was allied to Hicks in a battle against Gillett and Parry. However, the Spaniard is wisely being careful not to take sides in the unseemly civil war.

And indeed, five months after appearing on the verge of being sacked, Benitez is perhaps in a stronger position than ever.

With such uncertainty behind the scenes, Benitez has worked diligently to keep Liverpool in the top four and guide his team to within one round of a third Champions League final in four years.

And, as if to emphasise on-field matters remain the manager’s sole focus, Liverpool’s regular pre-match media conference was cancelled yesterday.

It is understood the decision was made because the agenda would have been driven by the boardroom splits and not tomorrow’s Premier League game with Blackburn Rovers.

Indeed, when asked about the off-field situation in an interview with the Liverpool website yesterday, Benitez replied: “I understand why you have to ask the question but, as I have told the players, we must be focused on football.

“We have an important game on Sunday and we have to concentrate on that.”

Parry concurred with the manager’s view, and said yesterday: “The overriding point I want to put across is that the emphasis should be on the team, not me or anyone else behind the scenes. We should be concentrating on winning games and making sure the season ends on a high note.

“We’ve just had an outstanding Champions League win over Arsenal, and now there is a semi-final against Chelsea to look forward to. That should be the story, not me, and it saddens me that internal matters like this are being aired in public.

“It was never the Liverpool way, and it shouldn’t be now.

“I stick by what I said a couple of weeks ago, when I went on the radio and called for the ownership difficulties to be resolved. I was surely only echoing what any Liverpool supporter would want. It is essential for the club’s well-being.

“It needs sorting out urgently, so we can restore some stability and get on with planning for the future.”

Such focus can only last so long, though, and unless Liverpool resolve the in-fighting few could blame Benitez for running out of patience and seeking pastures new in the summer.

The status quo seems likely to remain for the short-term, however. Hicks and Gillett are seeking backers to help buy the other out while the DIC look on and wait for the bickering Americans to sort themselves out.

Everyone associated with Liverpool will hope the timing of that is sooner rather than later.