KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum SOS STATEMENT: An American History

by Spirit of Shankly

As a new season dawns and fans look at the forthcoming season's expectations, on the pitch, hopes emerge of league title challenges, and a trip to Madrid in May. However off the pitch, it is a story of 'Same Old, Same Old'. Tom Hicks and George Gillett remain in charge, their primary concern being the refinancing of the debt on the club, rather than moving the club forward. If past actions of the owners didn't show this enough, including claiming £1.85 million in expenses between them, the recent media reports of how this season's transfer budget has been dipped into to pay off a portion of the club's debt, only further highlights where their priorities lie.


Back in February 2007, we were sold down the river by Moores and Parry, being told by the latter to "Trust Us" when it came Hicks and Gillett. 2 and a half years later, the trust, if there was any, has gone, and the idea of Tom or George being 'Custodians' of our great club has been tossed aside. We all have our opinions on them. We all have our ideas about what we would like to happen to the club, how we see it moving forward. But some fans are still unaware, oblivious to the behind the scenes 'mayhem' at Liverpool Football Club. So let's see just a few of the things Hicks and Gillett have said since they took control:

"This is not a takeover like the Glazer deal at Manchester United. There is no debt involved, and we believe that as custodians of this wonderful, storied club we have a duty of care to the traditions and legacies of Liverpool." Tom Hicks, February 2007.

The most recent reports suggest the overall debt due from the club and its holding companies is £410 million.

"The shovel needs to be in the ground in the next 60 days or so, and we would intend to follow that. I think you'll see the beginnings of a great big swimming pool being dug out here in Stanley Park relatively soon." George Gillett, February 2007.

Two and a half years later, there is no swimming pool, let alone a stadium.

"I asked why they had approached Klinsmann, because his pedigree was not one that made fans immediately sit up and take note. He claimed Klinsmann had a brilliant track record, and he had excellent marketing talent, having close links with those at Adidas, Nike and Reebok and the benefits of him being at Liverpool."

George Gillett's justification for approaching Jurgen Klinsmann, January 2009.

News of the approach to Jurgen Klinsmann was released at a crucial time in the 07/08 season, and had an effect on Rafa and team performances on the pitch.

"When I was in the leverage buy-out business we bought Weetabix and we leveraged it up to make our return. You could say that anyone eating Weetabix was paying for our purchase of Weetabix. It was just business. It is the same for Liverpool." Tom Hicks, May 2007.

Hicks displays a startling lack of understanding about what LFC means to millions of fans throughout the world.

This is what will go down in the history of Liverpool Football Club in years to come, indexed under the titles: Hicks, Gillett, American, Ownership, Turmoil. A European Cup Final in 2007, improvement in the league in 2009, overshadowed for all the wrong reasons. Do we want this to continue? Do we want to read and watch reviews of this period, and feel what might have been, "If only those 2 weren't in charge?".

Well ifs and buts can be avoided. We can't change what has happened already, but we can stop it getting worse. We can bring about change at our football club. It won't come easy, and it won't come overnight, but it will come - If we all stand together. If we unite behind one cause, speak together, and make sure that we have our voices heard. So at the Stoke City game on Wednesday night, we will be distributing leaflets at various points around Anfield. If you see them being given out, and don't know what it's about - Take one and read it. If you see them and do know what it is all about - Take one and give it to a friend, a family member, a work colleague who doesn't. Educate them. Let them see what it is really like. Not just in your words. But in the words of Tom Hicks and George Gillett themselves. Then ask them - Do they really want these two in charge for years to come?

Spirit Of Shankly

http://www.spiritofshankly.com

(If you would like to help with the distribution of the leaflets in the hours prior to the Stoke City game, please indicate your availability by emailing [email protected] e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Thanks)

wouldn't they be better off investing the time and effort into gathering the funds to buy the club rather than printing and handing out pointless leaflets? we all know the yanks should be gone but they are not helping matters in anyway shape or form

The only question is how can we get them out?

Ged and Emperor comments please, can you make any comments on the club that dont include something that is against our manager?

the only way to get them out is to stop wasting money on giving out leaflets etc and to gather it all up and buy the club off them! like emp said all they are interested in is money - so the only way to get rid is to give them it to [oops] off!

the money needed to print leaflets is a drop in the ocean compared to what is needed to buy the club Trepie.

Let people read them, refresh their memories and get their backs up even more, spread the word nation and worldwide and put pressure on these yankie b@stards!

These sods have thick skins mate, they don't give a toss!!! and have the face to breeze in to Anfield as though all's sweetness and light! [oops] them!

They HAVE to be made to feel uncomfortable and unwelcome by every single one of us!

I don't agree with protests that may effect the players and staff during the game but anything that can be done outside the ground and after the games is only positive in my book.

I agree we should not disrupt or unsettle our players, however i think by Xmas when one or two injuries have occurred and wh have a strike force made up of Ngog and Babel and are getting beaten by the likes of Villa or worse Blackburn. Then the time has come to take a more direct approach.

I still blame Moores in the first place for selling out to the yanks, cant really blame the two yanks for seeing a fantastic business opportunity to make some money for themselves because Liverpool Football Club in football and money terms is a cash making cow.
I think what fans do need to know is that the Club is no longer a football club but a business or as the two yanks called it a franchise, we are no longer fans or supporters but customers and clients and until we get used this the more easier we will be able to accept this. I dont just say this about us but about all football clubs, money has completely changed the game from what it was.
I dont want the yanks at our club and want them out as much as anyone but having said that i dont want the arabs in either, what fans need to understand is that whoever comes in are going to treat it the same way as the yanks and that is to make money. Alrite the arabs might lessen the debt on the club but there motives are exactly the same as our old friends Tom and George, and I honestly think it will be the same with whoever buys Waldorf and Mortimer out. I do however think the owners have done good by the fat spanish waiter, since they have been in charge of the club they have give him the money to break the club record on a goalkeeper in Reina, two full backs in Dosseina and Johnson, centre half in Skirtle, central midfielder in Mascherano, winger in Babel and two 20 odd million pound forwards in Torres and Keane, now I know people start talking about this net rubbish but that takes nothing away from the fact they have allowed the waiter to purchase all those players and at the same time not forced the waiter to sell anyone he has'nt wanted shut of. I am not a big fan or the Spirit of Shankley Group I think they have ulterior motives for themselves as well as the ones for the club, and one thing i would like to ask them is why when things are going well on the pitch dont you ever hear a peep of them off it, last season when we were winning games you never heard absoulutely anything from them then as soon as things dont go that well you cant shut them up.

ged I am beginning to think you are a bad spy!

How can you say "I think what fans do need to know is that the Club is no longer a football club but a business or as the two yanks called it a franchise, we are no longer fans or supporters but customers and clients and until we get used this the more easier we will be able to accept this."

Get used to it my ar$e!!!

and "I do however think the owners have done good by the fat spanish waiter, since they have been in charge of the club they have give him the money to break the club record on a goalkeeper in Reina, two full backs in Dosseina and Johnson, centre half in Skirtle, central midfielder in Mascherano, winger in Babel and two 20 odd million pound forwards in Torres and Keane"

Please do me a favour! Most of what LFC has achieved is no thanks to the yanks. They've promised much and delivered little! Tell me how do you build a title winning squad on no more than £20m a season, when our rivals pay more than that on 1 player!!!???
The "money" used to buy most of those players you mentioned was gained by selling players on and Torres came to Liverpool as did most of the others due to their respect and liking of our fat Spanish waiter as you keep describing him (spoken like a true manc/bluenose), respect Ged - something you could do with learning.
As for the Arabs involved in trying to buy our Club, they want to because they are livelong fans and not trying to make a fast buck at LFC's expense - how can their motives be the same???

As for SOS, your opinion comes as no surprize.

your post is out of order Ged, even by your standards!

i do have to agree with ged in this instance - i have serious reservations about SOS - they have no idea of the true spirit of shankly if they think this is the kind of thing he would want!

leaflet drops etc whether in games or out of them are still disruptive to team spirit and put the club under the media spotlight for the wrong reasons!!

i don't care if these leaflets cost only 10p every penny should be saved towards buying the yanks out or it is just wasted

start living in the real world please, Liverpool Football Club is a business now, Benitez has been given money alrite he has recouped money as well but the fact is he has still be given the money to back his judgement on players no matter what you say and every player he has got shut of are ones not good enough or ones he has wanted to get shut of, none have been forced on him unlike some other clubs have to do. You are living well and truly in the past if you think Football Clubs are run like they were years ago, its all about money, nothin more nothin less, them days are long gone when football supporters with money run the clubs. Do you honestly think those arabs are going to invest money in our Football Club with no intention of making any return on there investment please tell me your not that daft, there motives are the same as the yanks, they will just do things in another way thats all. I can tell by your posts your very weak in your mind and dont trust your own gut feelings thats why you are taking in by people like the self appointed voice of the club which is better known as the Spirit of Shankley. Funny the way the Spirit of Shankley dislike everything about the two yanks yet on a match day are quite prepared to share the same premises which is the Sandon Pub, the very same pub which is used as hospitality to wine and dine guests of our old friends Tom and George. I am in no way backing the yanks up with anything all I am saying is they are not as black as they are painted and at ther same time the Spirit of Shankley group are not everything they say they are, I would like to see the back of both to be honest.