Liverpool FC Fans To Hold July 4th Rally Against Tom Hicks & George Gillett

Hundreds of Liverpool FC fans are expected to attend a rally outside St George’s Hall in protest against the club’s American owners.

A line-up of politicians, ex-Reds footballers and musicians have been assembled to speak on July 4, an event billed as “Our Independence Day”.

And the day will signal the launch of a new supporter ownership scheme as part of a bid to wrestle control of Anfield back from reviled Liverpool bosses Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

Credit unions are on the verge of being set up to help supporters raise the £500 necessary to buy a share in the club.

A week on Sunday, Karen Gill, Bill Shankly’s granddaughter, John Aldridge, new Walton MP Steve Rotheram will attend the rally with music from Ian McNabb from the Icicle Works and John Power from Cast and The La’s.

Fans group Spirit of Shankly have been in discussions with Share Liverpool who, in 2008, launched a proposal for 100,000 Reds fans to buy a share for £5,000 to raise the £500m necessary to purchase the club. Over the past 24 months, that figure has been reduced to make the idea more affordable to every day supporters.

It has been suggested for supporters to pool their financial resources together to raise enough cash for a share, or even pay by installments.

The credit union could be set up in the coming months to allow interested Reds to structure payments in installments to secure the money.

Exactly how much is needed before the supporters union could approach Hicks and Gillett with an offer of investment is still being finalized.

James McKenna, spokesperson for Spirit Of Shankly, said: "This day is our chance to truly have independence from the current American owners.

“On what is a symbolic day, we hope it will represent the future of Liverpool Football Club, all fans coming together to make supporter ownership a reality.

“Our plans for supporter ownership, using the credit union format, means it is accessible to everyone.

“We can be custodians of the football club we love, and there is no reason to suggest why we shouldn't be.

"Karen Gill, John Aldridge, and Steve Rotheram, like Spirit Of Shankly, have spoken out about the current ownership and the problems they have caused.

“Now is the time for change at this club, and we want to achieve that.

“We want all fans to come to the rally, hear what is said and make their own mind up."

Figures show Liverpool has £351m debts and huge uncertainty surrounds the transfer budget available to the Reds next manager in the pre-season following the departure of Rafa Benitez.

The Reds failure to qualify for the Champions League last season hit the club’s finances hard and the prospect for a new stadium in Stanley Park has stalled with no cause for optimism on the horizon.