LIVERPOOL BANTER: Hicks’ methods go against ‘The Liverpool Way’

Apr 18 2008 by Sam Johnstone, Liverpool Daily Post

THINGS may be going well on the pitch, but the backroom back-biting continues to make us the punch line of our rivals’ jokes.

I had hoped that the Hillsborough memorial would lead to a ceasefire between the Hicks and Gillett clans, but I’ve always been foolishly optimistic.

The latest episode of this tiring and dispiriting situation saw the battle lines firmly drawn up, with somewhat surprising alliances.

The way the media is telling it, it looks like Hicks and Benitez versus Gillett and Parry, and these little coalitions will astonish some and anger others.

For once, there appears to be an element of truth in Hicks’ assertions that Rick Parry has taken the club as far as he can. There have been grumblings of discontent from a lot of fans about Parry’s handling of certain situations over the last few years, and though there is no doubting his passion and commitment to the club, a lot of fans have felt that we should be further up the footballing food-chain than we are.

What rankles with supporters are Hicks’ methods.

Lord alone knows how he has managed to amass a business empire with his PR skills.

For him to leak his resignation call to online groups and Sky without first sitting down with the chief executive smacks of heavy handed hubris, and is most definitely NOT the Liverpool way; in fact, it was disgraceful.

Whatever Hicks thinks about Rick Parry, he has been a devoted servant to the club and deserves better.

The news that the Jurgen Klinsmann situation was instigated by Gillett and had Parry’s full involvement came as a shock to supporters. No wonder Rafa feels marginalised!

No-one could blame him for wanting to walk away, particularly as he appears to have been stabbed in the back by those he trusted.

I hope to God that he manages to get through this, as he is still the best person for the job at Anfield.

Tread carefully, though, Rafa. Tom Hicks may be your new best friend, but his track record speaks louder than anything he has spun over the last fortnight.

Hicks obviously has some form of plan going on here, but every step he takes seems to push him further away from the supporters. It’s a mess of his own making, and for the sake of this great club he’d better get it sorted before the end of the season, or we will find it difficult to attract players in the summer.

Which leaves me with a couple of paragraphs to actually talk football! Great win against Blackburn, with the squad players playing their part in an important win.

Yossi did really well, and Stevie looked like he was back in form, though he has tended to go to ground a bit too easily this season.

It’s set us up nicely for the run-in, and next week’s crucial first leg against Chelsea.

A quick word on fixtures; it’s not often that we agree with David Moyes, but his righteous anger at the rearrangement of last night’s game against Chelsea struck a chord. Chelsea now have five days of rest before the semi, compared to our two, and why?

It’s our old friends Sky dictating the game times once again! How I long for simpler times.

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