Hicks now wants Gillett to back call for Parry to leave Liverpool

Apr 14 2008 by Richard Down, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL co-owner Tom Hicks is to formally ask business partner George Gillett to back his attempts to oust chief executive Rick Parry.

Despite the much-publicised breakdown of the Americans’ working relationship, Hicks needs the support of his co-owner to prise out Parry, who he has described as “arrogant” and with an “inability to manage an organisation”.

The Texan is also claiming Parry and Gillett were behind the controversial meeting with Jurgen Klinsmann to discuss the German becoming a potential successor to manager Rafael Benitez.

Hicks claims he has been made the scapegoat and has criticised Parry for calling his attempts to push him out “offensive”.

He said: “I didn’t hear Rick Parry say it was offensive when George gave his radio interview telling the world our relationship had become unbearable. When the Klinsmann story broke, I didn’t hear Rick Parry or George Gillett say that they were the ones that set up the Klinsmann meeting.

“Rick, George and Foster Gillett participated with my son, Tom Jr, and me in the meeting. Rick allowed all of the controversy to build without taking any responsibility.”

Hicks claims he is the man who should be leading Liverpool in the future and that he would keep Benitez as manager.

He declared: “It is time for Liverpool to have one strong owner that can give Rafa the support he needs to win trophies, oversee an outstanding management team to grow our commercial revenues and brand worldwide, and can build the best football stadium in the world.

“I truly believe I can be that owner. Rafa knows he has my total support and, yes, I would give him a contract extension.”

In Hicks’ determination to oust Parry he is writing to Gillett for formal support of the move.

He said: “Under our agreements, it takes both George and me to take any action as members of the Management Committee of Kop Holdings.

“I will formally request George’s approval to terminate Rick’s contract. If he chooses not to, the record will be clear.”

Hicks is understood to favour the promotion to chief executive of commercial director Ian Ayre, a Liverpudlian who was brought in to the club last year to try to boost Liverpool’s revenue-making operations around the world.

He said: “Rick Parry has been functioning as the chief executive of Liverpool for the past 10 years.

“During that time our commercial revenues have not kept up with other top clubs, which has made it very difficult to compete for the Premier League.

“After watching him operate, I came to the conclusion that his inability to manage an organisation, his seemingly arrogant attitude to supporters, and his lack of communication with Rafael Benitez meant it was time to ask him to resign.

“Under Parry, Liverpool never had a commercial department, which is why our revenues have fallen so far behind, which in turn hurts our ability to compete.

“I reached my decision a few weeks ago, but waited until after the important games against Everton and Arsenal.”

Parry is attempting to maintain a “dignified silence” and is understood not to want to add to the speculation surrounding the club’s backroom dealings.

But he has said: “I stand by my record in English football and as chief executive of Liverpool Football Club.

“It is not appropriate to comment in detail about these allegations – that should be a matter for the Liverpool board. In fact, I would welcome an opportunity to discuss these matters with our co-owners and board colleagues. This continuous airing of issues in the media is clearly not helpful to the club at this crucial stage of the season.”