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Reds' Duo Try To Repair Relationship

Fri 20 Jun, 03:09 PM


Warring Liverpool co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks are trying to repair their fractured relationship.

The pair have been at loggerheads over a number of issues this year, leading Gillett to describe their partnership as "unworkable".

There were fears the public feud between the billionaire businessmen would create anarchy at Anfield - including affecting the spending plans of manager Rafael Benitez - but a ceasefire appears to have been called between the two factions.

In an interview with Canadian radio station Fan590 late on Thursday night, Gillett revealed: "It's fair to say that communication between the Hicks and the Gilletts has been substantially improved and I believe that it will be for the benefit of the club.

"Time is a healer and there were things that had happened previously. It took a while for both of us to realise that we weren't communicating very well and the huge responsibility we have to the fans to do the right thing for the club.

"I believe that the Hicks family are communicating better with us and we're communicating better with them and I think that will be much better for the club."

Gillett refused to confirm whether this meant he no longer wanted to sell his half of the club to Dubai International Capital.

But he added: "All of us are focused on the transfer window and we want to be ready for that and we want to have adequate resources and good communication with Rafa and our hope is that we're making better progress."

Gillett insists he is focused on backing Benitez's attempts to improve on last season's trophyless campaign.

"What did I think of last season's performance?" he said.

"I'd rather let the fans make that decision. But for a club that has a history of winning trophies, any season that you don't win one of the five or six trophies that we compete for, I suspect the fans, as well as the Hicks and Gilletts, are disappointed.

"But overall I felt that the team played quite well, particularly beginning and late.

"I think they were very representative and I think (Fernando) Torres was a wonderful selection.

"By summer, I think the rest of the boys played quite well and we have to help Rafa try and be more competitive in the chase for the Premier League."

Liverpool fans had been divided on which side to take during the Gillett-Hicks feud, with many unhappy with both parties.

Gillett admits to being taken aback by the passion of the club's supporters but vowed to live up to his responsibility as joint custodian at Anfield.

"Soccer is the leading sport in the world and it's just shocking how popular Liverpool is. So it surprised me, but it really is an amazing responsibility," he said.

"We've always felt that for the 40-plus years I've been around professional sport that we really hold these assets in trust for the fans and that we have an obligation to the fans. We feel that very strongly in Montreal and Liverpool."

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Comment 1 - 11 of 11

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  1. bloody hell your spelling is awful

    From Andrew, on Sat 21 Jun 8:51PM
  2. They doesn't suit Liverpool FC!

    From damnsoldja, on Sat 21 Jun 5:00PM
  3. They doesn't suit Liverpool FC!!!

    From damnsoldja, on Sat 21 Jun 4:58PM
  4. They doesn't suit Liverpool FC!!!

    From damnsoldja, on Sat 21 Jun 4:58PM
  5. I'm really angry about this mthrfckr! Gillett knows nothing about Liverpool FC! They are american businessmans, interested in sportclubs in the US! But this is Football! They know nothing about football, the passion of football, the history and tradicion of football! Football is a higher level of sports! And Liverpool FC is the highest level of football!!!

    From damnsoldja, on Sat 21 Jun 4:57PM
  6. Yeh! I have to agree with the first comment. These yanks really need to sit down in they`re log cabins and study the history of LFC and then realise we are bigger than MUFC and well bigger than CFC who as usual want to buy the premiership even before the new manager arrives.God Bless the memory of Shankly, Paisley, and for the sake of football sir Matt Busby who for all his sins was originally a Liverpool FC footballer and give credit were credit is due MUFC won the league without major money invested into the club, God Forgive me for saying this but its a headbutt in the face of football capallism, cap footballers wages and we`ve got a game back on our hands again!

    From davies300@..., on Sat 21 Jun 1:46PM
  7. What a big mistake Liverpool did letting these cowboys buy our great club. It really does sadden me.

    From wardster31@..., on Sat 21 Jun 9:15AM
  8. DIC should buy Liverpool........they are way richer than the yanks

    From Sami s, on Sat 21 Jun 4:19AM
  9. I have to agree with n/a that these pricks don't know anything about football. If they don't know how many trophies we compete for then they are insulting the game and the Greatest Football Club in the world. What would Mr.Shankly and Mr. Paisley have thought of this?

    From Des, on Sat 21 Jun 4:00AM
  10. If the yanks truly believe the fans are the most important thing then they will sell the club and let real football minded people buy it ( the Arabs ) and let them get on with making the club great again.
    Firs priority for Rafa PICK A SETTLED TEAM and stop twotting about rumour has it he was seen at a dinner with odd socks on because he couldnt which ones to wear!

    From david I, on Sat 21 Jun 2:45AM
  11. "Soccer", "five or six trophies that we compete for"

    no comment...

    From n/a, on Fri 20 Jun 4:23PM
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