Tom Hicks on Rick Parry: Pot, kettle, black..
SO Tom Hicks thinks Rick Parry's time at Anfield has been a 'disaster'.
First off, nice choice of terminology bearing in mind the anniversary commemmorated this week.
Secondly, whilst the Liverpool chief executive has a fair amount to answer for - not least being one of the main protagonists behind the formation of greed-is-good Premier League yet failing to ensure LFC punches its weight commercially and particularly inflicting Stadler and Waldorf on us after years of scouring the globe for suitable investment - it is not him who has dragged the club's name through the mud over the last few months.
Liverpool Football Club used to be renowned throughout the game for the discreet and professional way in which it conducted its business.
Boardroom wrangling and in-fighting were things that happened at other clubs, never at Anfield.
That doesn't mean to say that there weren't conflicts behind the scenes but the people in charge a) cared about the reputation of the club enough and b) had enough common decency not to try and use the media to score points and influence public opinion in what are essentially private matters.
Hard to imagine Sir John Smith or Peter Robinson walking regally around the pitch in Athens, telling the manager through the press to "quit talking" or publicly asking a CEO to resign because they didn't have enough votes in the boardroom to sack them isn't it.
The line from Hicks' latest interview (Read here) about DIC being 'masters of British tabloid spin' almost raised a smile. Maybe they've been using the same PR firm Mr Hicks commissioned recently after realising how far behind the eight-ball in winning hearts and minds he was. If you can't beat'em, join'em, eh Tom?
At this time of the year, at well-run football clubs around the globe, plans will be being put in place for next season.
Pre-season training camps and tours arranged, new players budgeted for and ready to arrive early into the summer so they are all in for the start of the pre-season and are ready to hit the ground running come August.
Far too often in recent years, and some of the blame for this has to be attributed to the previous boardroom incumbents, we have been faffing about at the end of the August window (Simao, anyone?).
The new blood inevitably take time to settle causing the usual autumn slump and spring revival, leading to the predictable rally-cries of 'what we're not going to do to that league next season'.
At present it is hard not to envisage the same old scenario being played out although it could be even worse this time if the current deadlock is not resolved soon and, as Hicks himself admits, "If George doesn't sell - because I am not going to sell - I guess we stay in this position that we are in."
The fact that the Texan is prepared to play this game of brinkmanship with our club sends a shiver down the spine almost as much as his quote towards the end of the piece above where he promises he is "going to change".
Sounds like a desperate plea from a jilted lover about to be kicked into touch doesn't it. We can only hope that analogy becomes reality sooner rather than later.
* Before we all start reaching for the Prozac, a little reminder about how lucky (in spite of it all!) we are to be Reds. Here's the special BBC Liverpool Goal of the Season competition of the incomparable Barnes-Beardsley-Aldridge team
"And Kenny's boys of '88,
There never was a side so great.."
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as a life long liverpool fan i think we all should not attend any more games as to show those pathetic owners who has the power in the club,i am sure they wont like no money coming in, hit them were it hurts in their pockets, i am sure they will soon solve the dispute when no money will be coming in.
That is a great idea, but what about those fans who have paid for season tickets etc, I say if the two clowns are still in charge by mid June, I think no fans should by anything from the club. You with me on this??????
A small gesture - I just cancelled my e-season ticket on the official site. Stating the reason "the running of the club has become a disgrace, an embarassment to the fans and great name of LFC."
Rafa YNWA.
Why would Hicks write a letter to the board and then leak it with bad timing? It makes much more sense that a Parry-supporting board member would "leak" the letter in a (successful) attempt to stir up the fans against Hicks. It makes total sense. Some people seem to assume "Hicks is evil and stupid" - then interpret everything based on that assumption. Why not instead consider the possibility "Parry is under threat from Hicks and is trying to protect his own position by stirring up the fans against Hicks." Hicks wants Parry out a.s.a.p. so that he can get transfer dealings underway. Q: When would be a "good" time to do that? A: As soon as possible but after the team have just won a big game and are relieved of pressure. Q: What would be the best way to do it? A: Write an open letter to Parry and send it to the board. What else is Hicks supposed to do? Wake up, people. What is "pathetic" about the owner of a football club seeking to remove an incompetent member of staff? "RAFA YNWA" - then why not support the one person who seems to be on Rafa's wavelength.
Lets not forget this is the same Tom Hicks how told Roffa (say his nice correctly please Tom!) who famously told Rafa to shut up & get back to the training ground where he belongs. Then we had all the stories of Rafa going to Inter, Barca, Real etc., presumably started by Rafa's agent.
Great, we are winning again and looking like a proper team, but lets not forget all those draws and defeats and Rafa subbing Stevie & Torres with 20 minutes to go when losing at Reading.
I don't like Rafa sideing with Hicks now, lets hope he's not organising his own exit route!