Tom Hicks is considering raising the stakes in the Liverpool power struggle by asking his co-owner George Gillett to place on record whether Rafael Benítez features in his long-term plans for Anfield.
The Liverpool manager has been in frequent email contact with the Americans since Hicks demanded the resignation of Rick Parry last week and revealed, to the alleged surprise of Benítez, that the chief executive had been present at a meeting with the manager's potential successor, the now Bayern Munich-bound Jürgen Klinsmann. Benítez has sought an explanation of Parry's role at the meeting in New York last November and will decide on his own position at the culmination of the club's Champions League campaign.
Benítez and Parry attended a memorial service at Anfield yesterday to commemorate the 96 supporters who died at Hillsborough and, though the chief executive has declared his willingness to discuss the issue with the manager, the rival factions at Liverpool honoured an agreement not to detract from the 19th anniversary of the disaster with further public debate. Hicks, however, intends to intensify efforts to oust Parry and secure majority control of Liverpool by pressuring Gillett to reveal his views on Benítez's continued presence at Anfield. The Spaniard, unsurprisingly, also wants clarification on the matter from the co-chairman before the ownership saga is resolved.
Thus far only Hicks has stated that Benítez will remain in charge should he gain control of Liverpool, and he is believed to be willing to give the manager the greater influence over transfers that he wants should his bid for control succeed. Gillett, by contrast, has offered support only for Parry since Hicks asked him to resign less than 48 hours after the club's Champions League quarter-final defeat of Arsenal and has remained silent on the manager's position were he to purchase Hicks's stake in Liverpool.
Both Benítez and Hicks are acutely aware of the manager's popularity at Anfield and how divisive it would be to Gillett's bid for control, or attempt to sell his share to Dubai International Capital, should his support for Parry come at the expense of the Spaniard. Hicks could formally request Gillett's approval for the chief executive's departure at boardroom level and is also due to appear on television today to reiterate his opposition to Parry, although it is understood Hicks gave the interview earlier this week on the condition it would be aired after the anniversary of Hillsborough.
The Liverpool manager has been in frequent email contact with the Americans since Hicks demanded the resignation of Rick Parry last week and revealed, to the alleged surprise of Benítez, that the chief executive had been present at a meeting with the manager's potential successor, the now Bayern Munich-bound Jürgen Klinsmann. Benítez has sought an explanation of Parry's role at the meeting in New York last November and will decide on his own position at the culmination of the club's Champions League campaign.
Benítez and Parry attended a memorial service at Anfield yesterday to commemorate the 96 supporters who died at Hillsborough and, though the chief executive has declared his willingness to discuss the issue with the manager, the rival factions at Liverpool honoured an agreement not to detract from the 19th anniversary of the disaster with further public debate. Hicks, however, intends to intensify efforts to oust Parry and secure majority control of Liverpool by pressuring Gillett to reveal his views on Benítez's continued presence at Anfield. The Spaniard, unsurprisingly, also wants clarification on the matter from the co-chairman before the ownership saga is resolved.
Thus far only Hicks has stated that Benítez will remain in charge should he gain control of Liverpool, and he is believed to be willing to give the manager the greater influence over transfers that he wants should his bid for control succeed. Gillett, by contrast, has offered support only for Parry since Hicks asked him to resign less than 48 hours after the club's Champions League quarter-final defeat of Arsenal and has remained silent on the manager's position were he to purchase Hicks's stake in Liverpool.
Both Benítez and Hicks are acutely aware of the manager's popularity at Anfield and how divisive it would be to Gillett's bid for control, or attempt to sell his share to Dubai International Capital, should his support for Parry come at the expense of the Spaniard. Hicks could formally request Gillett's approval for the chief executive's departure at boardroom level and is also due to appear on television today to reiterate his opposition to Parry, although it is understood Hicks gave the interview earlier this week on the condition it would be aired after the anniversary of Hillsborough.
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