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Gillett admits split on eve of key Liverpool meeting
England - 01 April, 2008
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English Liverpool co-owner George Gillett said it is untenable that he will sell to co-owner Tom Hicks, and he, Hicks and representatives from Dubai International Capital will meet tomorrow (April 2) on the future of the club.
Gillett said an interview with a Canadian radio station that Hicks is so unpopular with Liverpool fans that he would not sell to him outright. Gillett said their working relationship has been severely damaged for some time.
Gillett also said he and his family have been receiving death threats.
Hicks and Gillett have plummeted in popularity with the way they have run the club. Dubai International Capital has come in and made an offer to but the club. But Hicks has been intractable, and insists on having a controlling interest.
He also has blocked Gillett's efforts to sell to DIC, something that Gillett said agitated Liverpool fans.
Gillett said he gave his partner some time to buy him out, but Hicks has taken too much time. So he has gone public with the already known split.
But DIC believes the global credit problems will force Hicks' hand. He must sell, and his refinancing of the club has not gone well.
Gillett, though, said maybe he doesn't have to sell. He seems to be considering buying out Hicks. That would leave DIC out of the picture again.
Club chief executive Rick Parry said at least the confrontational nature of the owners' relationship is out in the open. Now he wants it to be resolved one way or the other. Parry would like it to be wrapped up in some way by the end of the week.
"I think it brings it to a head for the good of the club," Parry said. "There is no question that to succeed you need unity at the top. I think it brings it to a head. All things are possible at the moment. Someone has to sell, that is clear if they are not able to co-exist."
In his radio interview, Gillett said he thought endgame would be near.
"The pieces on the chess board are moving," he said.
Gillett said an interview with a Canadian radio station that Hicks is so unpopular with Liverpool fans that he would not sell to him outright. Gillett said their working relationship has been severely damaged for some time.
Gillett also said he and his family have been receiving death threats.
Hicks and Gillett have plummeted in popularity with the way they have run the club. Dubai International Capital has come in and made an offer to but the club. But Hicks has been intractable, and insists on having a controlling interest.
He also has blocked Gillett's efforts to sell to DIC, something that Gillett said agitated Liverpool fans.
Gillett said he gave his partner some time to buy him out, but Hicks has taken too much time. So he has gone public with the already known split.
But DIC believes the global credit problems will force Hicks' hand. He must sell, and his refinancing of the club has not gone well.
Gillett, though, said maybe he doesn't have to sell. He seems to be considering buying out Hicks. That would leave DIC out of the picture again.
Club chief executive Rick Parry said at least the confrontational nature of the owners' relationship is out in the open. Now he wants it to be resolved one way or the other. Parry would like it to be wrapped up in some way by the end of the week.
"I think it brings it to a head for the good of the club," Parry said. "There is no question that to succeed you need unity at the top. I think it brings it to a head. All things are possible at the moment. Someone has to sell, that is clear if they are not able to co-exist."
In his radio interview, Gillett said he thought endgame would be near.
"The pieces on the chess board are moving," he said.
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