Liverpool co-owner George Gillett has admitted for the first time he would be "open" to selling his stake in the club despite insisting the side's finances are on a sounder footing than their Premier League rivals and denying there is a July deadline for a £350 million loan to be repaid.
Gillett agreed to speak with a representative from supporters' union Spirit of Shankly after being confronted by a group of fans in his Liverpool hotel before Sunday's 2-0 win over Chelsea, courtesy of two goals from Fernando Torres that reignited the club's title challenge.
In the meeting, the group's Jay McKenna outlined fans' grievances with Gillett and his co-owner Tom Hicks, which the American duo witnessed first hand when hundreds stayed behind at Anfield to demonstrate against their regime.
A Spirit of Shankly statement said Gillett expressed surprise to learn of the supporters' antipathy but admitted several parties are interested in relieving him of his stake in the club.
And Gillett, according to McKenna, also seemed to blame Rafael Benitez's outburst at Sir Alex Ferguson for Manchester United deposing Liverpool at the top of the Premier League. "Gillett said to me that, a few weeks ago, Liverpool were in first position and then a certain individual from the club attacked another individual from another club and since then we have lost form and slid down the league," said McKenna. "I was stunned and asked if he was blaming Benitez and in saying that was not backing the manager. Rather than confirm or deny, he said that was my implication."
Gillett's comments on the state of the club's finances have also further enraged supporters already unimpressed by the Americans. McKenna said: "I asked would he, Hicks or both be selling their stakes. He told me he could not speak for Hicks, but said there have been expressions of interest and some negotiation. He could not say who with but admitted he was open to selling, but could not speak for Hicks.
"I asked why he could not speak for Hicks, his partner, and he said husband and wife can say different things but one does not get the blame. He said he and Hicks had worked together well for six years in business but this was different because of the media."
McKenna explained to Gillett three areas of unhappiness among the fans concerning their ownership, although the Colorado-based businessman insisted he and Hicks had done their best to uphold Liverpool's traditions.
McKenna said: "Gillett told me he had tried to be a true custodian as he promised, saying it had been difficult but they had done what they could.
"I told him the fans see that he and Hicks have made three promises and broken them. The first was the debt on the club. I told him his partner Hicks promised it would not be like the Glazer takeover at Manchester United and to fans that meant no debt on the club. He claimed this was at the request of the banks and they were in a sound financial position with revenue in ratio to the debt better than any other club.
"When I asked about the extension of the £350 million loan with RBS and Wachovia to July, he claimed that was false and no one else knew the true details because they were confidential.
"The second was failing to back the manager. I asked him why they had approached Jurgen Klinsmann, and he claimed they had met with Benitez, who had told them he was to have talks with three other teams about joining them. They approached Klinsmann to work as a consultant if Rafa had left.
"The third was the new stadium, because Gillett himself had promised a spade in the ground in 60 days. He denied making this claim. He claimed they had spent £100 million on the stadium and were still working with designers, architects and planners. He claimed this money was coming from himself and Tom Hicks, not from the club. He then claimed all transfer fees to date had been met by him and Tom."
Hicks and Gillett met Benitez before Sunday’s game and sources close to both camps described the mood as “positive” but insisted there was some way to go before the finishing touches were put to Benitez’s new contract.
The Spaniard is holding out for a four year deal which gives him complete control over transfers and recruitment to the club’s academy. Hicks is said to understand his concerns but, as yet, has not buckled to his demands.
Reports the club’s powerbrokers were due to meet again on Monday were wide of the mark, with Hicks returning to the United States almost as soon as the Chelsea game finished.
