An open letter to Tom Hicks and George Gillett from Liverpool Pies
Mr Hicks and Mr Gillett,
It has been eight months since the custody of our club was passed into your hands and, though we would much rather have waited until a full, year-long term was completed before we assessed your performance, we here at Liverpool Pies feel that recent developments with regards to your ever-deteriorating relationship with Rafa Benitez mean such an assessment should be carried out immediately.
Upon receiving control of our club in March, we were publically promised in your many press conferences and interviews that the following four things would be carried out:
1) Investment in the playing squad, and the long-term future of our biggest stars to be secured.
2) That the development of a new, world-class stadium would be carried forward until completion.
3) That full support and co-opertion would be afforded to our manager, Rafa Benitez.
4) That in carrying the club forward, the long-standing traditions embedded in our club would be upheld as they are by the previous management, the current manager and players, and the match-going supporters.
Firstly, we are delighted at the considerable effort and expenditure that was carried out in securing future contracts for many of the club’s leading stars. We were grateful that the importance of players such as Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Pene Reina, and Xabi Alonso was recognised in the offering of new terms.
We were equally pleased at the extensive outlay made on bringing new players to the club. In particular, the capture of Fernando Torres, Yossi Benayoun and Ryan Babel showed a willingness and happiness to back Rafa Benitez not only in the transfer market as a whole, but also in securing his first-choice players – something that was sadly missing in his previous summer dealings.
However, further to the second point, we echo Rafa Benitez’s recent comments about the way transfer dealings operate in Europe. This is not, after all, an American sport, where the construction of a squad happens during the off-season, and the off-season only. Football, and in the Premier League in particular, is an ever-changing game, and those left behind in their transfer dealings are, more often than not, the same sides left behind in the race for silverware. Failing to strengthen in the areas we are lacking, and those that have, we are sure, been identified by Rafa Benitez, will only lead to us falling off the pace in the league title.
Furthermore, for all the summer outlay, we do not feel that it is right this be used as an excuse to avoid spending come January. The summer outlay of nearly £50 million must be offset by the over £20 million that we have recouped through the selling of players alone, not taking into account the wages saved through the release of some high-earning players.
On the point of the development of a new stadium, we can find no faults, and our thanks must be extended for the continued efforts in bringing a new, world-class stadium to our club. We must also offer our gratitude in the involvement of the fans in considering the importance of the Kop, and also in developing a suitable memorial to the Hillsborough disaster. While the elevated costs are of general concern, we are hopeful that this will not affect the future of the playing-side of the club.
However, we are deeply alarmed by the recent interaction with Rafa Benitez. This is a man who, on all previous occasions, you have back publicly. Mr Hicks, you yourself have said only recently that Rafa’s ability “should be unquestioned”, while on your arrival at our club described him as “a fresh thinker”, “a smart guy and great tactician”, and as “the man we want”.
Over the past week, though, we feel your treatment and lack of backing for Rafa has been wholly unacceptable. While Mr Benitez was probably wrong to air his grievances in public, we feel that your statement in response was nothing short of juvenile and undermining. We remind you that Mr Benitez has brought considerable success to this club – success that, at the time of his arrival, no Liverpool fan could have imagined. We remind you that the loyalty of Liverpool fans will continue to side with Mr Benitez, and that any attempts to undermine him to the club’s fans, players or the nation’s media will not be tolerated by us – the fans that weekly pump money into the club and your pockets. We remind you that, for all the work you have done over the past few months, the direct or indirect removal of Mr Benitez from his post will be met by supporter protest. We remind you that Liverpool is a club that supports its players and managers. We remind you that we will not be reduced to a joke by your public dealings. None of this is the Liverpool way.
We finally remind you that, regardless of the money, contracts or job titles, you are nothing more than guests at Liverpool Football Club. We remind you that this is our football club, not yours. We remind you that, while you have the power to remove Mr Benitez at your will, we ultimately have the power to remove you. We remind you that Liverpool Football Club is bigger than you.
Sincerely,
Liverpool Pies
[Picture: Christopher Furlong/Getty]
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