Nicky Ayers
THE manager of a Liverpool Sunday league team was murdered in the street in a gangland execution.
Nicky Ayers, in his mid-40s, was blasted at least three times outside a relative’s home in South Cantril Avenue, West Derby, at just after 12.10am today.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
It is believed he had been to see one of his daughters and his young grandson and was on his way home when the gunman struck.
Murder squad detectives were today trying to piece together what happened. In the aftermath they were unsure whether the killer was on foot or in a car and couldn’t say precisely how many shots had been fired.
One witness told the ECHO they heard three shots in quick succession followed by a fourth after a pause of a couple of seconds – pointing to an execution.
The scene was sealed off today as forensic officers worked around the spot where Ayers fell.
One neighbour said: “I heard four bangs, one after the other.
“Me and the missus were in bed when we heard police cars screeching round the corner.”
Thought to have a number of grown-up and younger children Ayers had a fearsome reputation around north Liverpool, and particularly West Derby, where he lived.
He was manager of the Western Approaches FC who play in the Liverpool and District Sunday League.
Recently the big LFC fan had been involved in an escalating fall-out over drugs turfs in the city.
