Liverpool FC owners feud: Hicks camp attacks Gillett for ‘unhelpful’ interview
Liverpool FC owners feud: Hicks camp attacks Gillett for ‘unhelpful’ interview - Liverpool Daily Post.co.uk
SOURCES close to Liverpool FC’s Texan owner Tom Hicks last night criticised co-owner George Gillett for the timing of a hard-hitting interview in which he confirmed the breakdown in their relationship.
Hicks is believed to have been angered by the Canadian radio statements in which millionaire Gillett finally spoke out against his partner.
Gillett said that following fan protests – and death threats – he had now changed his mind about selling any of his stake to Hicks – and was even considering buying out his partner.
The Hicks camp believes the timing of Gillett’s comments – after a lengthy silence – are most unfortunate given the huge week of games facing the Anfield club.
A source close to the Texan said: “It is not very helpful to talk about this situation, given the importance of the next two or three weeks coming up in the fixture list.
“These bits and pieces in the media are not beneficial to the overall performance of the club and that’s what we want people to concentrate on at this stage.
“With games against Everton and the Arsenal coming up, football has to come first.”
In the interview, Gillett revealed he had received abuse which he believes had been brought about by Hicks's comments.
“We get as many as 2,000 emails a week,” he said.
“Ninety five per cent of them have been directed at some of the comments made by my partner.
“The thing that angers fans the most is the prospect I might sell even one share of my stock to my partner.
“Frankly, I don’t think it’s fair for me to put my family in that kind of danger. So, instead of thinking about selling, I might think about buying.”
Gillett said his partner had not only failed to take up an offer to buy his share, but also tried to stop Gillett selling to DIC.
He told Montreal radio: “This partnership has been unworkable for some time.
“We were very fair. We gave our partner (Hicks) a long period of time to try to make arrangements to buy us out.
“We didn’t put pressure on him but he ultimately did not get to the finish line.
“In the meantime, because of the things he said, the fans’ reaction has been so negative towards him – and towards us if we sold to him – that has now made that an untenable alternative for us.
“He threatened to block me selling to Dubai – that was certainly one of the things that made the fans upset.”
Gillett said “chess pieces were still being moved around the board” in relation to the current situation.
He also spoke with pride about Liverpool’s history, and said he would be attending one of the club’s games against Arsenal.
“What I know is that the fans and the great fabled history of this club deserves better, and we’re going to everything we can to try to prove that in whatever role we play.”
