FORMER Liverpool defender John Scales fears the club is paying a high price for its failure to cash in on the trophy-laden years of the 1970s and 80s.

Signed from Wimbledon in 1994, Scales describes his time at Anfield as “the pinnacle of his career.”

However failure on the pitch to match the achievements of Liverpool teams from earlier eras left the club with little alternative but to look for outside investment believes Scales, who picked up a League Cup winner’s medal during his two years on Merseyside.

However he admits he has been surprised by the turmoil the club now finds itself in following the takeover by Americans George Gillet and Tom Hicks.

Scales, who was a member of the Wimbledon team that beat Liverpool in the 1988 FA Cup final, says: “Being at Liverpool was the pinnacle of my career. There was a lot of speculation about me getting an opportunity at a bigger club and I was close to joining Liverpool 12 months earlier.

“But then there was a change of manager and I wondered if my chance had gone. However Roy Evans came back in for me. I will never forget the excitement of going down the steps and touching the Anfield sign before a match.

“Stability had always been the key at Liverpool but there was a spell where the team was not as successful over a number of years and it was clear things would have to change.

“Liverpool teams were never complacent and there was always a focus on improving on the pitch, but perhaps this was not matched commerically.

“New revenue streams across the Premier League opened up, but perhaps Liverpool were slow to react and that saw clubs like Manchester United overtake them.”

Scales believes that the Premier League will always be held up as the barometer of Liverpool’s success.

“The focus was always on winning the title,” he says. “That provides the benchmark for being the best team in the country with the consistency needed over the course of the season to win the league. Their achievements in the Champions League have been fantastic, but you need to get a lot of things right from the balance of the team to producing performances week-in, week-out to win the league.”

The 41-year-old, who now runs his own sports event company, was speaking at the launch of the latest findings on the work of the Football Foundation.

Set up in 2000 with financial backing from central Government, the Premier League and the Football Association, the Foundation pumps around £45million a year into grassroots football – and new figures show the last 12 months has seen a 20% increase in participation in the sport.

“The work of the Foundation is not just about discovering a new Steven Gerrard,” explains Scales. “But providing the resources and facilities so that people from all walks of life and different abilities can take part.

“In the Liverpool area the Football Foundation has funded 68 projects at a cost of £16m.

“There has been a time of neglect when it comes to facilities, with playing fields being sold off, for example. But the Foundation is working to reverse that.

“It is not just about winning, but giving people a chance to enjoy taking part with the benefits that brings to the community and lifestyles.”

A range of grants and advice is available to anyone involved in running football – from coaching schemes to the provision of kit, to a goal posts safety campaign and details of new pitches and facilities.

Further details are available from the Foundation’s website at www.footballfoundation.org.uk