Premier League - Parry to leave Liverpool

Eurosport - Fri, 27 Feb 19:08:00 2009

Liverpool have confirmed chief executive Rick Parry will leave his position at the end of the season.

FOOTBALL 2007-2008 Rick Parry, Liverpool chief executive - 0

Parry's position has become increasingly unstable in the last few months as a result of boardroom divides between American co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

A statement from Hicks read: "Rick's commitment to Liverpool Football Club is epitomised by his desire to ensure that this transitional period is managed efficiently and we are grateful to him for his help. He will always remain a friend of the football club."

Parry, 54, made no mention of the ongoing feuds as he confirmed the end of his long association with the club.

Last April he was asked to resign by Hicks in a move he branded "offensive" and has had to compete with the American forming a 'shadow executive' led by commercial director Ian Ayre and finance director Steve Nash, who operate out of a city centre office away from Anfield.

"I have had 12 very exciting years at Liverpool and am extremely proud of what has been achieved by the club over that period," Parry said.

"The victory in Madrid was a wonderful reminder of the many high points we have experienced and adds to the moments that make Liverpool and its magnificent fans so special.

"It has been a privilege to serve the club and as a lifelong supporter I wish the owners, Rafa (Benitez), the players and the wonderful staff all the very best for the future.

"I will be leaving at the end of the season knowing that the club remains strong and with a set of supporters who deserve success in all that Liverpool does."

Gillett added: "I would like to thank Rick for his significant service to the club and the assistance he has given us since we joined Liverpool. He has been integral to the club's success over the past decade and leaves with our best wishes for the future."

Ironically, Parry facilitated Hicks' and Gillett's purchase of the club in February 2007 after Dubai Investment Capital's bid fell through and he was understood to have received a £500,00 bonus when the deal was completed.

But the relationship between the trio gradually disintegrated, leaving Parry allied with Gillett and Hicks to side with manager Rafael Benitez.

Rumours of boardroom discontent and instability have blighted Liverpool's last two seasons, and rumours that Benitez was on the verge of quitting earlier this week threatened to overshadow the crucial 1-0 defeat of Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League last 16.

Parry has already considered resigning this season when he was touted to be chief executive of England's 2018 World Cup bid but opted to remain at Anfield and stand his ground.

Having been born and raised on Merseyside, Parry studied at the University of Liverpool before becoming a management consultant.

He was chief executive of the Manchester 1992 Olympic bid and director of the 1996 bid, and was consulted about plans to found the Premier League in 1992 before becoming its first chief executive.

Liverpool confirmed they will begin their search for Parry's replacement and will "update supporters and other stakeholders when appropriate".

Eurosport

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  1. GLORY-GLORY MAN UNITED!!!
    GLORY-GLORY MAN UNITED!!!
    MAN­ UNITED RULE!!!!

    From coky, on Sat 28 Feb 5:14PM

  2. see ya!

    From D, on Sat 28 Feb 12:05PM

  3. I seriously believe these continental managers lack the­ knowledge of English Premier League football to succeed­ in the cauldron of the league championship. Just look­ at Rafa's squad: - Babel, Dossena, Reina, El Zhar­ and more, all may have looked good in their own league­ but their skills are seriously short when stacked up­ against Premier League talent, how anyone could keep­ Keane on the bench while playing the likes of Babel and­ company dazzles the mind! Robbie Keane was never given­ the chance he deserved at Liverpool because of some­ stupid boardroom bickering. Well, blame the boardroom­ for the initial wrong, but Benitez handling and­ constant belittling of Keane was unconscionable.
    His­ record?
    With all of the draws Benitez has engineered­ this season and last, perhaps he would be better suited­ to run a "Nicker Factory"!!!

    From Walking quiet, on Sat 28 Feb 3:21AM

  4. They might as well give Rafa the control he wants. LFC­ is doing for better this season than last. Any fan­ would have gladly taken being 2nd place and seven­ points off the lead at this stage last season. Also if­ he leaves so will some of the best players i.e. Alonso,­ Reina, Torres, Mascherano. Then where would the team­ be? If Rafa gets his way and doesn't get it done­ after a season or two sack him and get someone else.­ Besides everyone seems to forget that one of the­ biggest problems LFC has is paying back that massive­ loan that's due in the summer.

    From dobod123, on Sat 28 Feb 1:58AM

  5. Mark K, you know nothing about me, or the type of­ players I tend to support, etc. However, you are an­ overzealous Liverpool fan, so you make bold, unfounded­ (and factually inaccurate) claims to compensate.

    Silly­ man....

    Anyway, UNITED FOR THE DRUPLE, baby!

    From United!!, on Sat 28 Feb 12:26AM

  6. Lets hope the football can now do the talking and not­ the press, lets buy some proper quality in the­ summer(attacking midfielder and a striker) and thats­ the tiltle in the bag for next season.

    From andy, on Fri 27 Feb 10:43PM

  7. i think ivan red u not liverpool fan masherano and­ riera are op players and bebitez is top man liverpool­ for life

    From nezir, on Fri 27 Feb 10:21PM

  8. i think its better now rafa more power

    From nezir, on Fri 27 Feb 10:14PM

  9. has the wrong man just walked? Looneypool fans you­ decide!

    From Andrew, on Fri 27 Feb 8:32PM

  10. Does him mean more power to Benitass?

    From Half A Brain, on Fri 27 Feb 7:41PM

  11. Lucas cost £5m about the same as sidwell and has done­ arguably better in the anfield goldfish bowl, traore­ was already there you clown, Nunez was free as part of­ Owen deal and Robbie Keane came in for 20 and out for­ up to 18.5 never cost 28, get your facts right

    From Hobitez, on Fri 27 Feb 7:38PM

  12. ALL ENGLISH FOOTBALL
    PREMIER LEAGUE – FA CUP – CARLING­ CUP
    CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – UEFA CUP

    ALL MATCHES ON­ INTERNET: PREMIER LEAGUE, FA CUP, CHAMPIONSHIP,­ CARLING CUP, LIGA, SERIE A, BUNDESLIGA, CHAMPIONS­ LEAGUE - UEFA CUP AND MUCH MORE

    ALL THE HIGH LIGHTS­ OF PREMIER LEAGUE MATCHES

    From WWW.PREMIERSHIP.ALTERVISTA.ORG, on Fri 27 Feb 7:09PM

  13. To all manure and cHELLski farty fans-go away, stay­ away and remain gay u slap jaw dozey little fart­ knockers!

    From LFCool!, on Fri 27 Feb 6:18PM

  14. "I have had 12 very exciting years at Liverpool­ and am extremely proud of what has been achieved by the­ club over that period," Parry said.

    no premier­ league championships, proud of that. liverpool must get­ someone who has pride in winning the premier league let­ that fool walk alone

    From easybloom, on Fri 27 Feb 6:12PM

  15. What is going to happen now there is no one to curb­ Rafa's penchant for buying totally c*** players? I­ mean £28m for Robbie Keane!?! What about Antonio Nunez!­ Traore, Lucas... holy cow the club is in deep s*** now!

    From mark.winter, on Fri 27 Feb 6:10PM

  16. most manu fans are thrilled rafas staying, liverpool­ havent a chance with his negative play and baffling­ team selections

    From kingcantona, on Fri 27 Feb 6:07PM

  17. Only Manu,Chelsea,Arsenal fans want Rafa to be axed so­­ that their league positions wont be treatened by­­ Liverpool.Our 4th positions previous years didnt make­­ them to queery Rafa.

    From Michael, on Fri 27 Feb 5:40PM

  18. Judge Judys on! Watch it and we can comment on it!!!

    From LFCool!, on Fri 27 Feb 4:47PM

  19. So Benitez has won his petulant power struggle -­ great!!! That's another Englishman gone and now the­ club is in the grip of a crazy Spaniard and a couple of­ good for nothing yanks. As Liverpool fans, we might be­ angry with Parry for selling to these fools - but at­ least he kept Gerrard at the club when Benitez wanted­ rid of him. This club has lost it's soul, how­ tragic. Bring back Dalglish as manager and get rid of­ these foreign meglomaniacs, they're destroying a­ once proud sporting institution.

    From Lee 1973, on Fri 27 Feb 4:12PM

  20. Invalid comments only to Liverpool fans?Stupid biased­ Yahoo'Eurosport

    From Michael, on Fri 27 Feb 3:49PM
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