Liverpool owner rivals watch Liverpool draw

Apr 23 2008 by Vicky Anderson Liverpool Daily Post

THE two factions battling for control of Liverpool Football Club came face to face at Anfield last night, during the team’s disappointing Champions League semi-final game against Chelsea.

Current co-owner Tom Hicks was present in the directors’ box for the first time this year to see the 1 - 1 draw, as were representatives of DIC, the Dubai group keen to buy overall control of the club.

Hicks watched with his family, including son Tom Hicks Jr, and sang You’ll Never Walk Alone with the rest of the capacity crowd.

The Texan had arrived in the city earlier in the day and headed straight for the club’s Melwood training complex, where he talked to manager Rafael Benitez and watched training before heading to Anfield, arriving almost three hours before the game. Despite predictions, there was no police escort.

The presence of the Dubai International Capital delegation, including negotiator Amanda Staveley and chief executive Sameer Al Ansari, gave a clear indication of the group’s continued interest in the club.

Chief executive Rick Parry and LFC life president David Moores sat together, some rows behind the Hicks entourage, which occupied the front row of the directors’ box – perhaps unsurprising, considering recent calls from the co-owner for Parry to step down.

Past and present England managers Fabio Capello, Steve McClaren and Sven-Goran Eriksson were also among the crowd at Anfield.

Fans were left disappointed at the result, although happy with the performance of their team.

Crowds outside the Kop quickly dispersed, and outside the Sandon pub the mood was subdued, with fans seemingly unaffected by Hicks’s presence at the match.

Paul Williams, from Allerton, said: “Everyone is gutted tonight, but I think the fans really didn’t want to concentrate on Hicks being there. I think he was doing a PR job to try and get the fans onside, but I don’t trust him.”

Steven Critchley, from Liverpool, said: “It’ll make Hicks sick if we don’t get the Champions League. He might sell. So some good might come of it.”

Mark Johnstone of Old Swan said: “It just feels really flat. We were all going to go for a drink after the game but after the own goal, nobody bothered.

“Everyone thought a 1 - 0 lead would be a good result and that would see us through.

“We played well, it was just so unfortunate.

“I’d heard Hicks was there but didn’t see any particular protests.”

Brian Rowan, 43, from Childwall said: “In regards to Hicks, I think him and Gillett should sell up to DIC and Rick Parry should go with them.”

SPORT: P32-36

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