Thousands of Liverpool FC fans demand exit of US owners

Jan 21 2008

lfc protest

TENS OF thousands of Liverpool fans chanted their disapproval at a controversial refinance scheme that could saddle their club with £350m of debt at Anfield.

Rather than stage an all out post-match protest as threatened, the Kop chose to vote with its voice and on banners.

Club owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett were left in no doubt what the Anfield faithful thought of their remortgage bid after last yesterday’s Villa tie.

New terrace anthem “Liverpool’s in the wrong hands” roared from the Kop to the Anfield Road end.

Les Lawson, secretary of the Merseyside branch of the official Liverpool Supporters' Club said: “We want them out - let’s face it, we are their customers and without customers they are  owners of nothing.

“I think tonight they realised they aren’t wanted in Liverpool.

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“The best we can hope for is that they negotiate a process with DIC and make some sort of profit  before leaving us alone, though the last thing we want is for them to make anything out of it.

“If they think there’s any chance of rebuilding bridges, they’re wrong. Those bridges are  burned.

“They’ve gone behind Rafa’s back and now with the repayments at around £30million a year,  they’ve gone behind ours.

“They’re going to be watching the game tonight and it will be reported worldwide.

“We want them out and let’s face it, we’re their customers and without us they’ve got nothing left  to own.

“Interestingly, George Gillett has been very quiet recently and seems to be on the fence. I think  he’s gone back to the states and that could be an indication their both heading off.”

Club captain Steven Gerrard admitted that off-the-pitch problems were becoming a distraction.

He said: "It's not just this week, it's been going on for some time and it's certainly not helping  the players.

"I've got to be careful what I say, but it's certainly not helping the team."

Gerrard added: "We know what's going on, but as players you've got a job to do on the pitch and  you try to put what's going on off the pitch to the back of your mind.

"But sometimes it's impossible, when it is every day."