HUNDREDS of Liverpool FC fans marched on Anfield stadium in advance of Saturday’s disastrous 2-1 FA Cup defeat against Barnsley.

It followed a meeting of the Sons of Shankly (SOS) supporters’ union during which supporters discussed the club’s plight.

More than 600 Liverpool supporters had joined the walk from the Olympia, on West Derby Road, after the meeting, during which it was announced that Sons of Shankly would become the Spirit of Shankly in order to make it female-friendly.

SOS chairman Nicky Alt told the Daily Post last night: “The turn-out was fantastic. I feel that the spirit of the club is on the verge of breakdown and if we don’t do something about it now then it could disappear forever.

“The club has always had a good relationship with the fans going back to Shankly standing on the Kop and asking supporters for their views.

“We should have started this union after the Hillsborough disaster. The first union meeting was at the Sandon pub near the ground, then I organised the second one at the Olympia.

“I never asked to be chairman but loads of people just said that ‘Nicky should be chairman’.

“SOS will cost £10 for each person to be a member per year. The administration is being carried out by a firm from Great Homer Street and we have people working on the internet site. The union is not to preserve Rafa Benitez, it will go on for eternity.”

Most fans were local, from Liverpool and the surrounding area, but some had come from as far as Guernsey to the meeting of the union which was formed just weeks ago.

At the meeting, SOS flyers listing their reasons to start a union were handed out, which included a campaign to see the Anfield area being regenerated along with fan ownership.

Sorting out cheaper travel to and from games, how to put pressure on the football club to take action over the ticket office, and how fans can use their col- lective strength to force change for the better at the club were also part of the union’s charter.

Rogan Taylor, who pioneered the Share Liverpool FC idea, attended the event. He said that fans needed to see the bigger pic- ture and with his idea the fans would “own the club” and would be able to pass it on “to their children” and future generations.

One fan told him £5,000 was too much, and a million shares at £500 was more feasible. Taylor said he would consider raising it from 100,000 and made the point that Barca made more shares recently, with the club's fan base now 157,000.

At the meeting, SOS spokes- person Neil Atkinson asked people to boycott the club's merchandise in order to hit the Yanks hard. But a speaker from the floor said it would not work due to overseas fans and internet shopping. There was also talk of picketing the club shop.

Nicky Alt added: “At the moment, it's looking as if DIC are the better option, but I want the fans to own the club. I would love it for David Moores to come in and join the Share Liverpool FC option. The city would give him a lot of respect for that.

“Also, ex-players should not be saying that the Yanks should be allowed to get on with matters. They could come in and be part of the Share Liverpool idea as well.”

SPORT: PAGES 35, 36;

POST MATCH: PAGES 1, 6-7