Benitez plays down Hicks Liverpool talks

January 31, 2010

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez insisted he had no definite plans to meet with co-owner Tom Hicks after his side beat Bolton to stay on course for a Champions League spot.

Hicks made a rare 5,000-mile visit to Anfield to watch Liverpool maintain their chase for a top four finish thanks to goals from Dirk Kuyt and an own goal from Bolton forward Kevin Davies here on Saturday.

The Texan’s presence came one day after Benitez talked openly about interest in his services from Italian club Juventus, a development that has cast yet more doubt about the Spanish manager’s future on Merseyside.

Yet Benitez claimed no meetings with Hicks had been arranged, although the manager added he would be open to such talks.

“Maybe I will see him. I knew he was here but I was just concerned with what was happening on the pitch,” said Benitez. “If he is around, I will see him, no problem.”

Hicks’s attendance could also have been related to the transfer window, which closes on Monday, although Benitez insisted he was unlikely to launch a last-minute foray into the market.

“It is not easy to find better players than the players we have at the moment. We are watching players, we are trying to find someone who can be good for the team,” he said.

Instead, Benitez looks like attempting to steer this current squad to the promised land of Champions League football and is sticking to his “guarantee” of a top four finish.

“I think we are improving, you can see the team is working very hard and, hopefully, we can keep the momentum,” said the Reds boss, whose side are now just a point behind Tottenham, who currently occupy the fourth and final place on offer to English clubs for next season’s Champions League.

“I have to say we can finish in the top four because I am the manager and I have to have confidence.

“If I say ‘no’, the players will say the same. So, I have to say ‘yes, we will finish in the top four’ and I believe it.”

Benitez could also take heart from the form of Steven Gerrard.

The England midfielder was clearly unfit for the disappointing midweek draw at Wolves but looked close to his usual form against Bolton.

“He was better and he is trying very hard, that is the main thing,” Benitez said.

“Especially when we scored the second goal, the team was playing with more confidence and you could see that he is one of the players who could make a difference for us.”

Owen Coyle felt there had been a foul in the build-up to the second Liverpool goal although the new Bolton manager was optimistic that, with talent such as South Korea’s Lee Chung-yong, his team could avoid relegation.

“I don’t want to take anything away from Liverpool but I was disappointed in both goals we gave away,” said Coyle, whose side are a point above the bottom three.

“There was a foul by Lucas, who dragged one of our players back at the far post and wherever that shot was going, it certainly wasn’t going into the net until it was deflected.

“In the first half we had some good opportunities. Chung-yong made a terrific run which shows what a talent he is and why I am looking forward to working with him.

“But I’m delighted with how the players have gone about their work since I’ve been here. We’ve played Arsenal twice, Liverpool away and beat Burnley in the week.

“We have moved up from where we were in the table and there is a lot to look forward to. I’ve got real belief we can stay in the Premier League.”

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP)

Tags: attendance, champions league football, chase, Chung, club juventus, co owner, definite plans, dirk kuyt, England, english clubs, italian club, Kevin Davies, Lee Chung-yong, Liverpool, liverpool england, liverpool manager rafael benitez, Lucas, Merseyside, momentum, Owen Coyle, owner tom hicks, premier league, rafael benitez, reds, south korea, Steven Gerrard, tom hicks, tottenham

Gillett and Gerrard hand Benitez double boost

January 20, 2010

Rafael Benitez’s position as Liverpool manager has been bolstered by an unequivocal expression of support from the club’s co-owner George Gillett and by assurances from Steven Gerrard that he has no plans to quit Anfield.

With Liverpool embroiled in a four-club scrap to secure a top four finish in the Premier League and a return to the Champions League next season, Benitez’s leadership has been subjected to critical scrutiny by pundits, some Liverpool fans and former players.

But Gillett, who has in the past been less enthusiastic in his support for Benitez than co-owner Tom Hicks, has made it clear there are no plans to remove the manager, describing Liverpool’s current woes as a temporary blip.

“We believe if you were to put a list together of the top five coaches, managers in the world, he would definitely be on that list for us,” Gillett told Canadian radio station Prime Time Sports.

“And we think he’s been tossed a curve ball by circumstance, injuries and so forth.

“I think that’s been a real challenge to the coach. He’s had to really make some innovations and play some players out of position and so forth.

“And notwithstanding that, they’ve generally played with a lot of passion. I really believes it’s a blip.”

Gillett’s comments came ahead of a potentially pivotal match between Liverpool and Tottenham at Anfield on Wednesday evening.

Recent weeks have seen a flurry of reports suggesting that Gerrard, the club captain, and main striker Fernando Torres will both be sold if Liverpool fail to edge out Spurs, Manchester City and Aston Villa in the race for fourth place.

There have also been persistent claims that Gerrard was involved in a dressing room bust-up with members of Benitez’s coaching staff at half-time in Liverpool’s FA Cup defeat by Reading last week.

But the England midfielder, who has turned down previous opportunities to leave his hometown club, emphatically denied that there was any substance to the stories.

“I’ve heard about a dozen versions of the same rumour and they?re all as daft as each other,” Gerrard told Liverpool’s Daily Post.

“If anyone thinks this nonsense unsettles either me or the club then they’re mistaken. If anything it’s brought everyone even closer together because we’ve all had a good laugh about it.”

On the transfer rumours, Gerrard added: “All the stories about me leaving are unfounded. The fans can be assured I’m doing all I can to get back to top form and help Liverpool finish the season on a high.”

Gerrard, Torres and Israeli star Yossi Benayoun were all set to miss the Tottenham match through injury.

LIVERPOOL (AFP)

Tags: anfield, aston villa, blip, canadian radio station, club captain, club scrap, co owner, critical scrutiny, curve ball, dozen versions, dressing room, England, Fernando Torres, George Gillett, Liverpool, liverpool fans, manchester city, owner tom hicks, premier league, prime time sports, rafael benitez, Steven Gerrard, striker, tom hicks, tottenham, wednesday evening

Tom Hicks junior quits Liverpool board after fan rant

January 11, 2010

Liverpool director Tom Hicks junior has resigned from his position on the club’s board and their parent company following a foul-mouthed e-mail he reportedly sent to a supporter.

The American, the son of the Premier League club’s co-owner Tom Hicks, found himself involved in controversy Sunday after a report in Britain’s News of the World tabloid that he’d abused a fan when contacted about the state of Liverpool’s finances.

Hicks junior, who allegedly called the fan an “idiot”, allegedly sent a second, foul-mouthed e-mail saying: “Blow me (…). Go to Hell. I’m sick of you.”

Although he has since apologised, Liverpool confirmed in a brief statement Monday that Hicks junior had resigned.

“Liverpool Football Club today announce that Thomas Hicks Jr has resigned as a Director of both the Club and its parent company Kop Holdings,” the statement said.

Hicks junior was seen as a key member of a Liverpool board balanced between feuding American co-owners Hicks senior and George Gillett, whose son Foster is also a board member as is managing director Christian Purslow.

But such has been the reaction to Hicks junior’s reported comments he has now left and Liverpool used the opportunity of his departure to announce a restructuring of the boards of both the club and Kop Holdings.

Casey Coffman, executive vice-president of Hicks Holdings, replaces Hicks junior while Liverpool’s chief financial officer Philip Nash and the club’s commercial director Ian Ayre are have also both been elected to both companies.

Purslow, Nash and Ayre are regarded as having played significant roles in helping improve the club’s finances, including a new shirt sponsorship deal with Standard Chartered Bank worth some 80 million pounds.

LIVERPOOL, England (AFP)

Tags: apologised, Britain, Casey Coffman, chief financial officer, Christian Purslow, co owner, commercial director, director tom, e mail, executive vice, Foster, George Gillett, Ian Ayre, Liverpool, liverpool england, liverpool football club, news of the world, news of the world tabloid, owner tom hicks, parent company, Philip Nash, premier league, s board, sponsorship deal, standard chartered bank, thomas hicks, Thomas Hicks Jr, tom hicks

10 good reasons to love Rafa Benitez

November 27, 2009

After our (rather unsuccessful) attempts to convince you of Raymond Domenech’s appealing qualities, our thoughts turn to that much-maligned manager from Madrid, Rafa Benitez.

Liverpool went out of the Champions League on Tuesday night despite a 1-0 win over Debrecen, as Lyon failed to bite in Fiorentina.

Benitez is taking a lot of stick from fans and non-fans alike but here are 10 (OK, nine) good reasons to love the man:

1. His detractors still put it down to as much to luck as judgment, but the achievement in taking that ragtag bunch of players to Champions League glory in 2005 just can’t be underestimated. The shake-up at half-time, bringing on Dietmar Hamann and switching to a three-man defence, changed a game that no one in the world believed could be salvaged and gave Benitez the defining moment of his coaching career.

2. David Ngog. You can pore over the transfer record all you like, and many, many fans, bloggers and journalists have, but the signing of French striker Ngog for just 1.5 million pounds from PSG will surely go down as a terrific piece of business. Ngog has a great career ahead of him, if used wisely. If…

3. Montse. Kenny Dalglish once claimed that he couldn’t give a TV reporter any clues about who would be playing the Cup final as it was his wife, Marina who always picked the team. Rafa doesn’t go that far but his wife Montse did have a role in keeping him at the club in 2007. “Benitez is not going anywhere. He’s under contract and he told me that his wife has said that if he ever did go, he’d have to go without her because she’s staying in Liverpool!” co-owner Tom Hicks was quoted as saying.

4. Doctor Who? Rafa was made a Doctor ‘Honoris Causa’ of the University Miguel Hernandez of Elche in 2008. So if love is out of the question you should at least look up to him unless you have a higher degree, too.

5. Attacking style. Valencia fans have mixed feelings about Benitez but most recognise that he at least tried to play a more attacking style – as opposed to the counter-attacking strategy under Hector Cuper — and it was rewarded with those two league titles. When he joined Liverpool, it was a similar story, at least early on, as the team played the ball around much more than they had done towards the end of the Gerard Houllier era. So at least he tried.

6. Speaking of attack, how about that one on Alex Ferguson. Great entertainment. Fact.

7. Zonal marking. This has been a source of great joy for opposition teams in the Premier League this season, so if you are a fan of another club you should be praising Benitez to the skies.

8. That trip to the pub. It is by no means unusual for Liverpool fans to go to the boozer on a European trip but no one expected the team manager to turn up at an Irish bar in Cologne.

9. Fernando Torres. If David Ngog shows Benitez has an eye for a bargain, the signing of Torres shows it’s sometimes worth shopping at the nose-bleed end of the market… as long as you get the right player. Torres cost 20 million pounds or so and would be worth at least twice that now and quite possibly a lot more, which if nothing else should make up for purchases such as Dossena, Riera, Babel, etc, etc…

10. Ok, that’s only nine. Anyone care to nominate a 10th?

PHOTO: Liverpool’s coach Rafa Benitez gives instructions to his players during their Champions League match against Atletico Madrid in Madrid October 22, 2008. REUTERS/Felix Ordonez

Source

Tags: benitez liverpool, co owner, debrecen, defining moment, detractors, doctor honoris causa, doctor who, elche, hamann, higher degree, kenny dalglish, miguel hernandez, pore, rafa benitez, raymond domenech, terrific piece, tv reporter, unsuccessful attempts

Hicks: No plans to sell star player

November 8, 2009

Liverpool football club co-owner Tom Hicks has insisted that no star players will be sold.

The Reds are in the midst of a woeful run and lie seventh in the Barclays Premier League, nine points off leaders Chelsea, while they are also on the brink of an early exit from the Champions League.

Failure to reach the knockout stages would be a severe financial blow but Hicks is adamant the likes of Fernando Torres or Steven Gerrard will not be forced to leave Anfield because of cash pressures.

He told the Sunday Mirror: “None of our star players will be sold, regardless of results.

“The club is doing very well due to rapidly growing commercial revenues.

“We have significant investor interest and want to make sure that we pick high-quality partners.

“We are happy with the way things are going financially but we hoped things would be better on the pitch.”

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: barclays, barclays premier league, brink, champions league, CHELSEA, co owner, early exit, Fernando Torres, financial blow, investor interest, knockout stages, Liverpool, liverpool football club, midst, owner tom hicks, premier league, quality partners, reds, star player, star players, Steven Gerrard, sunday mirror, tom hicks

No Premier League return for Mourinho

October 24, 2009

Jose Mourinho has rubbished speculation suggesting he could replace Rafa Benitez at Liverpool.

Benitez has come under pressure following a dismal run of four straight defeats in all competitions that has hit their hopes of domestic and European success.

The Reds boss has insisted he feels safe in his job despite the poor results after receiving words of support from co-owner George Gillett.

There has still been plenty of conjecture about Benitez’s future and several names have been mentioned in the media in connection with the club.

Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho was quizzed on the subject during his pre-match press conference ahead of the Serie A clash with Catania.

But he closed the door on a possible return to the Premier League at the current time, saying simply: “It is impossible.”

Mourinho preferred to focus on Inter but opted against heaping too much praise on young forward Mario Balotelli.

The 19-year-old produced a sensational performance in the 5-0 victory over Genoa last Saturday, scoring one of the goals, but Mourinho has not been too impressed with his attitude in recent days.

“This doesn’t mean he’s already a phenomenon only because he played a really good match with Genoa,” said Mourinho.

“To tell the truth he played a really great game and then he had a really bad working week.

“I value a player for what he does on the pitch but also for the job he does during the week.”

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: 19 year old, abhimanyu, catania, clash, club inter, co owner, conjecture, current time, dismal run, genoa, George Gillett, great game, inter milan, Jose, jose mourinho, last saturday, Liverpool, liverpool benitez, mario, Milan, premier league, reds, sensational performance, speculation, to tell the truth

Sullivan reveals Old Town interest

October 18, 2009

Former Birmingham co-owner David Sullivan has revealed he came close to buying Ipswich two years ago.

Sullivan, who left his role at Birmingham earlier this month after finally agreeing a deal with Carson Yeung, is keen to get involved with a new football venture.

The 60-year-old claims he has been approached by 14 clubs about investing in them and has also admitted he almost took control at Portman Road when Yeung first tried to gain control at St Andrews two years ago.

Sullivan had to pull out when Yeung failed to buy Birmingham at the first attempt when he could not raise the necessary funding to complete the deal.

“I was very close to buying Ipswich Town,” Sullivan told the Sunday Mirror.

“I had a two-week window of opportunity but had to pull out because Yeung didn’t come up with the money and the rules prevent me from having financial interest in two clubs.”

Sullivan has been linked with moves for West Ham and Charlton, but insists he will take his time before deciding what presents the best option for himself.

“It’s my intention to take some time off and then I will look around and see what is available,” added Sullivan

“Although I have been approached by a lot of clubs, any investment has to be right for me.

“The criteria I’m looking at are a club with a decent ground, good fan base and in easy travelling distance from my home.

“The major obstacles are the over-inflated prices clubs are attempting to charge and in most cases the significant debt that comes with that club.”

Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: abhimanyu, Birmingham, carson yeung, charlton, co owner, david sullivan, fan base, financial interest, inflated prices, intention, money, obstacles, old town, Portman Road, rajput, st andrews, sunday mirror, west ham, window of opportunity

Liverpool co-owner blames Benitez

October 6, 2009

Co-owner George Gillett has urged Liverpool fans to blame manager Rafael Benitez for on-field failings and insisted more money has been pumped in to the team than into rival outfits.

“We have invested more money than our competitors in keeping with the history of the club,” Tuesday’s Daily Telegraph quoted the American businessman as saying.

“In the last 18 months we have invested 128 million pounds on top of what has come in. That means it should be getting better.

“Now if it’s not getting better, it’s not Gillett and (co-onwer Tom) Hicks, it’s the manager, it’s the scouting,” the newspaper quoted Hicks as telling a fan meeting at the club’s Kirkby academy last week.

“There was plenty of money, so if you have any complaints, take a look at the ins and outs,” Gillett said.

Sunday’s 2-0 loss at Chelsea was the Reds’ third defeat of the season — more than they suffered in the whole of last season — and they also lost against Fiorentina in the Champions League last week.

Gillett added that the 30 million pound fee recouped from Xabi Alonso’s move to Real Madrid “went straight back” into the club’s transfer budget, which was already set at “22-23 million as part of our budgets”.

“The club is in extraordinarily good financial condition. Far better than Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal,” he said.

“We have invested massively, we have put more money in than anyone other than Manchester City, with the craziness they have got.”

Spanish manager Benitez, who has this season steered clear of public statements on the owners after nearly two years of conflict, has refused to write off Liverpool’s chances of winning the Premier League this season despite falling lying in fifth place, six points behind leaders Chelsea.

Benitez’s team looked anything but championship quality on Sunday as Chelsea overpowered them in the second half.

“This year the top sides will lose games but you have to try to improve and we will try to win against Sunderland next,” the Spaniard said.

“We drew a lot of games last season too, we will now try to win and if we have more wins than draws, we could end with the same amount of points.”

LONDON (AFP)

Tags: 30 million, Alonso, championship quality, CHELSEA, co owner, craziness, daily telegraph, fiorentina, George Gillett, Hicks, kirkby, Liverpool, london, MADRID, Manchester, manchester city, manchester united, premier league, public statements, rafael benitez, six points, Spaniard, Sunderland, third defeat, Tom, tom hicks, xabi alonso

Yeung gains 86% of Birmingham City, takeover nears

September 29, 2009

Hong Kong tycoon Carson Yeung said Tuesday he had moved closer to gaining full control of English Premier League club Birmingham City, boosting his plans to develop football in China.

Yeung said he now held 86 percent of the club while his company, Hong Kong-listed Grandtop International Holdings, gained approval to raise the 57 million pounds (91 million US) needed to complete the transaction.

The tycoon, who bought 29.9 percent of Birmingham in 2007, is keen to use the purchase of the club to boost links between English and Chinese football and develop his other business interests in apparel and entertainment.

“We wanted to buy Birmingham because it was free of debt and it owns its own stadium so we can incorporate other commercial developments,” Yeung told reporters, declining to give further details.

Grandtop is particularly interested in plans by Birmingham council for a new 55,000-seat stadium as part of a city re-development, the company’s chief operation officer Sammy Yu said.

Yeung has previously said he would personally offer team manager Alex McLeish five million pounds to buy “better players.”

The tycoon said Tuesday that he would be committed to keeping McLeish on board as manager but declined to give more information on his projects for the team.

“We would like to keep the takeover smooth. We will keep the current manager and try to do our best for the club’s interest,” he said.

He also said he couldn’t reveal any more information on plans to tie in his other businesses with the club until they were finalised.

The deal is expected to be formally completed in early October with the major shareholders all having committed to selling to him.

His takeover will bring an end to co-owner David Sullivan’s official involvement with the club after 16 years, and also that of managing director Karren Brady.

Earlier this month Yeung told British reporters he wanted to recruit Chinese players with potential and promote English football in China.

Yeung’s first attempt to seize control of the club in 2007 fell through, triggering the departure of manager Steve Bruce mid-way through a season that ended in relegation.

They were promoted back to the top flight last season.

HONG KONG (AFP)

Tags: alex mcleish, Birmingham, birmingham city, Brady, business interests, carson yeung, chief operation officer, China, chinese football, chinese players, co owner, commercial developments, david sullivan, english football, English Premier League, Hong Kong, karren brady, managing director, sammy, Sammy Yu, seat stadium, shareholders, Steve Bruce, takeover, tycoon, U.S.

Reds could land Saudi funds

September 28, 2009

English giants Liverpool could secure significant new investment with a private Saudi sports investment company in talks with co-owner George Gillett.

F6, who are chaired by Saudi prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdullah, have confirmed they are holding talks with Gillett, who holds power at Anfield alongside fellow American Tom Hicks.

Hicks and Gillett have been forced to shelve plans for Liverpool’s new stadium due to the ongoing global economic crisis.

And manager Rafa Benitez saw his summer transfer budget restricted with the signings of Glen Johnson and Alberto Aquilani largely financed by Xabi Alonso’s departure to Real Madrid.

F6 could purchase all of Gillett’s 50 per cent stake to take joint control alongside Hicks, with another option that they buy part of the Texan’s share.

“We have not reached a final agreement yet,” Gassim Hamidaddin, F6 deputy managing director, told Reuters.

“We are discussing how much 25 per cent or 50 per cent in Liverpool will be worth.”

Hicks and Gillett have come under fire from some Liverpool supporters since taking charge, with the duo also enduring a fractious relationship at times.

Abhimanyu Rajput