TOM HICKS Junior has publicly apologised for sending an offensive and expletive-strewn email to a Liverpool fan.

The apology came just hours after the Texan son of co-owner Tom Hicks Senior resigned from his high-profile role as a director of Liverpool Football Club.

His resignation came after he called LFC fan Stephen Horner “an idiot” and “f*** face”.

The furious reaction came after Mr Horner sent Mr Hicks Jnr a copy of an article discussing the future of manager Rafael Benitez and his players.

Mr Hicks Jnr’s abusive emails also told Mr Horner to “Go to hell” and said “I’m sick of you”.

He later sent an email telling Mr Horner: “I apologise for losing my temper and using bad language with you. It was a knee jerk reaction.”

Last night he followed his resignation with a public apology, saying: “I have great respect for Liverpool Football Club, especially the club’s supporters.

“I apologise for my mistake and I am very sorry for my harmful words.

“I do not want my actions to take away from the club’s future and therefore I am resigning from the board.”

He said he hoped the club and the fans would accept his “sincerest apologies”.

His departure leaves room for three new board members.

LFC commercial director Ian Ayre, chief financial officer Philip Nash and Hicks Holdings executive vice president Casey Coffman were elected to the boards of the football club and its parent company Kop Holdings.

Mr Ayre and Mr Nash were both appointed by Hicks’s father, and it was Mr Nash who travelled to the Middle East when he and co-owner George Gillett sought a buyer there.

The Daily Post understood Mr Nash also held discussions aimed at reducing the club’s debt. Ms Coffman became the chief operating officer of Hicks Sports Group in 2007.