Liverpool fans are in good hands with Red Sox owners claim Americans

By Andrew Warshaw in London

October 6 – Major League Soccer (MLS) Commissioner Don Garber, the most powerful man in United States football, insists Liverpool will be in good hands if the takeover by Boston Red Sox owner John W Henry (pictured) goes through.

Reds fans fear swapping one set of American owners for another could be a case of out of the frying pan into the fire but Garber, speaking at the Leaders in Football conference here, said this could not be further from the truth.

“They have a tremendously robust understanding of the sports business and how to protect and enhance the legacy of the historic brand,” he said.

“That’s in essence what they have done with the ownership of the Red Sox.

“There is something called the Red Sox Nation, a brand supported by fans going back generations, similar to Liverpool supporters.

“The ownership has not only graced that but enhanced it, they have enhanced and renovated the stadium, they have brought modern technology to improve the fans experience.

“They have put championship teams on the field and managed their enterprise with an eye to profitability, so they are tremendous pro-sports team owners.”

Henry, principal owner of New England Sports Ventures (NESV), has had a offer of around £300million accepted by the Liverpool board although current owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have launched legal action to try to block the takeover.

Garber said Hicks and Gillett, held responsible by the fans who have seen the club plummet down the Premier League amid massive debts, could not be compared with Henry.

“I can’t speak for the difference between Gillett and Hicks and John henry and his partners,” said Garber (pictured).

“But if you are a sports fan in the USA, pick two or three of the most revered and successful clubs in our nation’s sporting history and the Red Sox are one of them.

“I don’t know if you could say the same about the teams owned by Mr Gillett and Mr Hicks.”

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck, himself an American, went considerably further in commenting on Liverpool’s crisis.

“I think you need to build up a relationship with the fan groups,” he said.

“I don’t think they [Gillett and Hicks] listened to the fans.

“It wasn’t just the leverage of debt.”

He was supported by Wolverhampton Wanderers chairman Steve Morgan who gave a cautious welcome to the prospective new owners.

“I think there are a lot of bridges to be crossed before it’s finalised but I think, at the moment, it’s a step in the right direction,” said Morgan, a fanatical Liverpool who once tried to buy the club himself.

‘I’m not a fan of leveraging debt in football particularly when you are in a business like football when you are in the hands of the guys on the pitch.”

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