Liverpool supporters have stepped up their efforts against owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks by questioning the thoroughness of the Premier League's 'fit and proper' person test
In an open letter to senior figureheads, the Liverpool Supporters' Union - Spirit of Shankly have called on League chiefs to investigate the Americans' dealings that contravene the guidelines of the probe, which was unveiled two years after the duo took control at Anfield.
Pledges made by the pair in February 2007, during which they claimed they would ensure that the club remained debt-free and begin work on a new stadium within 60 days of their takeover have been cited by the group in the letter to Chief Executive Richard Scudamore.
The proposed takeover by the Rhone Group has also come under scrutiny following previous dealings with surfwear brand Quiksilver amidst claims that John Muse, a former business partner of Hicks when he owned Brazilian outfit Corinithians, is involved with the bid.
Christian Purslow, Liverpool's managing director, is currently scouring the global market for a £100 million investment to reduce repayments owed to the Royal Bank of Scotland on the club's £237 million debt in order to negotiate an extension before this summer's deadline.
James McKenna, a spokesman for Spirit of Shankly, said: “Tom and George promised us heaven and have delivered hell.
"Who would have thought that three years ago we would be where we are now, owners with no money, a desperate search for investment to pay down debt, and fans having to seek and fight for answers about what is going on at their club?
"Questions must be asked of those who are meant to regulate the game, the Premier League. They are seemingly turning a blind eye to what is happened to us and other clubs, in favour of selling the brand.
"What brand will they have to sell if it carries on like this? If we don’t get the answers we want from them, then we will see if they will listen to us when we turn up at their offices and demand answers.”
He added: “Questions must also be asked, and the same mistakes not allowed to happen again, regarding who will invest in LFC now. We don’t want to be jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire.
"Until we know what is happening at our club, we will continue to seek answers to protect the club, as the fans after all are the true custodians.
"Tom Hicks and George Gillett need to get the message – They aren’t welcome at Anfield and neither are any other investors looking to make a quick buck at the expense of doing it properly.”
Supporters have been encouraged to send a copy of the email, which can be found on the group's website, to Scudamore, chief spokesman Dan Johnson and Cathy Long, Head of Supporter Relations.
A joint protest with financially-strung Portsmouth took place before the game between the two sides at Anfield last month to call for more stringent measures to be taken when investigating owners of Premier League clubs.
In an open letter to senior figureheads, the Liverpool Supporters' Union - Spirit of Shankly have called on League chiefs to investigate the Americans' dealings that contravene the guidelines of the probe, which was unveiled two years after the duo took control at Anfield.
Pledges made by the pair in February 2007, during which they claimed they would ensure that the club remained debt-free and begin work on a new stadium within 60 days of their takeover have been cited by the group in the letter to Chief Executive Richard Scudamore.
The proposed takeover by the Rhone Group has also come under scrutiny following previous dealings with surfwear brand Quiksilver amidst claims that John Muse, a former business partner of Hicks when he owned Brazilian outfit Corinithians, is involved with the bid.
Christian Purslow, Liverpool's managing director, is currently scouring the global market for a £100 million investment to reduce repayments owed to the Royal Bank of Scotland on the club's £237 million debt in order to negotiate an extension before this summer's deadline.
James McKenna, a spokesman for Spirit of Shankly, said: “Tom and George promised us heaven and have delivered hell.
"Who would have thought that three years ago we would be where we are now, owners with no money, a desperate search for investment to pay down debt, and fans having to seek and fight for answers about what is going on at their club?
"Questions must be asked of those who are meant to regulate the game, the Premier League. They are seemingly turning a blind eye to what is happened to us and other clubs, in favour of selling the brand.
"What brand will they have to sell if it carries on like this? If we don’t get the answers we want from them, then we will see if they will listen to us when we turn up at their offices and demand answers.”
He added: “Questions must also be asked, and the same mistakes not allowed to happen again, regarding who will invest in LFC now. We don’t want to be jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire.
"Until we know what is happening at our club, we will continue to seek answers to protect the club, as the fans after all are the true custodians.
"Tom Hicks and George Gillett need to get the message – They aren’t welcome at Anfield and neither are any other investors looking to make a quick buck at the expense of doing it properly.”
Supporters have been encouraged to send a copy of the email, which can be found on the group's website, to Scudamore, chief spokesman Dan Johnson and Cathy Long, Head of Supporter Relations.
A joint protest with financially-strung Portsmouth took place before the game between the two sides at Anfield last month to call for more stringent measures to be taken when investigating owners of Premier League clubs.
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