Minister shows support for fans to buy Liverpool
Story by Alan Weston
A CABINET minister last night got behind a bid by fans to buy out Liverpool FC.
Andy Burnham, the Liverpool-born secretary of state for culture, media and sport, joined ex-Liverpool players John Barnes, Phil Thompson and John Aldridge to launch the next phase of ShareLiverpoolFC's bid to take over the club.
The aim of the campaign is for a consortium of fans to buy out current owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett for £500m
Last night's meeting - held immediately prior to Liverpool's victory in its Champions League qualifier with Standard Liege - was attended by around 120 supporters.
They heard that the group's website had been relaunched, and that so far 7,500 individuals had re-registered their interest out of the 28,000 who had initially shown support.
To achieve its aim, the group needs 100,000 fans to buy one share for £5,000 each.
Andy Burnham told the meeting that, despite being a lifelong Everton fan, he wanted to "show moral support for what you're trying to achieve," and for the principle of fans taking ownership of their clubs.
He added: "This would send a message of encouragement to people all over the country, who feel football is losing its way.
"If it carries on in this way and the Premiership becomes a league table of wealth, football will lose what's special - its community origins and its personal link with the fans.
"Whatever it is I can do to help ShareLiverpool, I will do.
"If you feel this is the best way to secure Liverpool FC, you've got to make it work."
Ex-players on the panel expressed disappointment at the low turn-out for the meeting, but added that they were behind the aims of the supporters' body.
John Barnes said: "There is a lot of scepticism surrounding this, because it's a scary thing that you as an individual will own the club." ShareLiverpoolFC was launched at the start of the year by Rogan Taylor, a Kop season ticket holder and a director of the Football Industry Group at the University of Liverpool.
Since then, the organisation has been formally approved as a co-operative society by the Financial Services Authority.
Dr Taylor said the next phase of the operation would see the organisation make a big effort towards increasing its membership.
He said: "We're on the road, but we've still got a long way to go."
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