Liverpool FC Appoint Tom Werner As Chairman

Tom Werner is the new chairman of Liverpool Football Club.

The 60-year-old’s position was clarified yesterday at a New England Sports Ventures (NESV) briefing in London.

The LFC co-owner is expected to take a very hands-on role at Anfield, as part of his top executive role.

No formal announcement was made declaring Werner as chairman, contrary to some reports.

But the position of certain members within NESV was clarified as the make-up of the Reds board starts to take shape.

Effectively, the position that executives hold within the Boston conglomerate set-up will directly transfer across to Liverpool.

John W Henry will remain as owner in chief and take a position on the board.

More indications about the new owners’ views on a Liverpool stadium were made yesterday.

It is thought the Americans could wait up to two years before deciding whether to build a new ground in Stanley Park, or redevelop existing Anfield, although no commitments have been made.

The news about Werner’s appointment is set to hurry along the departure of current Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton from Anfield.

That will come as no surprise as the British Airways boss openly stated he was brought in to the club to solely oversee its sale.

At present, Broughton remains at the club, but he has a post at Sports Investment Partners (SIP) already lined up, which he will shortly embark upon.

Liverpool was sold to John W Henry, owner of the Boston Red Sox, last month for £300m, in a rollercoaster battle with the much-maligned former co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

The decision comes just days after the assignment of new scouting boss Damien Comolli, brought in to oversee Liverpool’s transfer policy.

The Liverpool board is now starting to take shape, with Werner joined by NESV executives David Ginsberg and Michael Gordon.

No limit has been set for the number of directors who will form the final make-up of the Anfield board.

Liverpool-born Ian Ayre remains in the frame, while a chief executive to replace the departed Christian Purslow is still needed, and the global recruitment process to find his successor is ongoing.