Gillett calls on Hicks to stop causing 'turmoil'

CISCOEG6 · Novice

Gillett calls on Hicks to stop causing 'turmoil'
The conflict between Liverpool's co-owners boiled over in public again Thursday, with George Gillett Jr. calling on Tom Hicks to stop causing trouble.

Gillett also vowed never to sell his 50 percent stake to the Texan, who is determined to gain full control of the club.
Hicks earlier risked further destabilizing the Champions League semifinalist by giving an interview which strongly criticized Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry and the direction of the club.

Liverpool's InfightingLatest NewsGillett: 'Let's stop the turmoil'

"I am saddened at this latest outburst from Tom Hicks," Gillett said in a statement from Vail, Colorado. "If Tom wanted a serious discussion on the issues to help the club move forward, he should bring his views to the board."

Hicks expressed his concerns first in a lengthy series of quotes provided to The Associated Press on Sunday and in an interview Thursday with Britain's Sky TV.

Five-time European champion Liverpool is just two matches away from another final and hosts Chelsea on Tuesday in the first leg.

"Here we are, a few days away from a vital Champions League semifinal match and Tom has once again created turmoil with his public comments," Gillett said. "Tom should stop. He knows that Rick Parry has my support and that airing his comments in this way will not change my position.

"His failure to discuss this with the (Liverpool) board or the management committee is significant."

Hicks stepped up his campaign to oust Parry by labeling his leadership of England's most decorated club a "disaster."

Hicks, who also owns the NHL's Dallas Stars and baseball's Texas Rangers, said his goal was to relieve the club of all its debt except for the working capital needed to get the new stadium built.

"I want the finances of the club to be secure," Hicks said. "I want to be the majority owner of a group that buys the club and I have got a 25-year track record of being a very successful investor around the world. The fans don't like the fact that we borrowed a lot of money to buy the club but I will fix that."

Gillett and Hicks bought Liverpool for 218.9 million pounds (then US$431 million; €333 million) in March 2007, which included an agreement to pay off about 45 million pounds (then US$89 million; €68 million) of debt and a pledge to build a 60,000-seat stadium.

Hicks is critical of the UAE consortium looking to buy into the storied Premier League club, but Dubai International Capital says privately that it is "resolutely determined" to succeed in its takeover.

Hicks considered bringing DIC on board as a minority partner, but terminated talks last month. Hicks then vetoed Gillett from offloading his 50 percent stake to them.

Hicks labeled DIC the "masters of tabloid," claiming that the group - trumpeted for its oil wealth by Gillett - has misled fans about its investment plans.

"(It's thought) Dubai must have a lot of money - if they were to come in and buy, we'd buy all these players," Hicks said. "Well I know for a fact from talking to Dubai that's not the way they would approach any potential investment in Liverpool."

With Hicks' power of veto highly disputed, it is unlikely that he could determine the buyer of Gillett's stock.

"Tom needs to understand that I will not sell my shares to him and that we need to find a way forward that is properly funded and truly in the best interests of Liverpool Football Club," Gillett said. "The real business of winning matches and running and developing the club is what we should all be focused on at this moment."

Gillett also disputes Hicks' assertion that he and Parry led an attempt to replace popular manager Rafa Benitez with former Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann.

"I was also taken aback by his version of the events as reported," Gillett said.
Associated Press

pancho · Rookie

George Gillett has called on his Liverpool co-owner to stop causing turmoil and insisted he will never sell his shares to his fellow American. Gillett and Hicks, who each own 50% of Liverpool, have fallen out completely with neither prepared to let the other take over the club.

TGL:CBKoE · Division 2 Novice

i want both of them out

Hicks cos he wanted Rafa out, but will give him money
Gillet - cos he wont give rafa money but wants rafa in

pancho · Rookie

so whats going to happen with liverpool in general

elfisk · Rookie

i wonder if this is going to affect liverpool next season