Thompson - Still in limbo

Former captain calls for boardroom stability at Anfield

By James Root   Last updated: 11th March 2008

Thompson - Still in limbo

Thompson: disappointed

How are we going to have the Arabs of Dubai and the Americans making the right decisions for Liverpool? I'm just at a loss - I don't know whether it's good or bad. It's difficult times.

Phil Thompson
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Phil Thompson has told skysports.com that even if DIC buy a stake in Liverpool, the club will still be unstable.

Dubai Investment Capital (DIC) are in advanced talks to buy a 49 per cent stake in Liverpool, with George Gillet willing to sell his share.

It would still leave Tom Hicks with the majority share in the Merseysiders, but their former European Cup-winning captain and coach, is still concerned for the future of the club.

"I don't know what to make of it all, I'm getting so despondent about things" he told skysports.com. "I'm looking at it and thinking on one hand it's nice to have DIC coming in, but I'm also worried that it's only 49 per cent.

"That means Tom Hicks is going to be all-powerful."

Thompson believes there would be complications if DIC were to co-own the Anfield club with Hicks.

He points to the set-up already in place and the off-the-field problems that have plagued the club this season - including a fall-out with manager Rafa Benitez.

Difficult times

"Hicks and George Gillett have not been able to get on in running the football club," he said.

"Two Americans who, OK might not live next door to each other, but are fellow countrymen and have not been able to get on and make decisions for the good of Liverpool Football Club.

"So how are we going to have the Arabs of Dubai and the Americans making the right decisions for Liverpool? I'm just at a loss - I don't know whether it's good or bad. It's difficult times.

"I just wish one would make their claim, preferably DIC. But then you don't know what will happen. Will DIC be the same as the Americans if they took over? We're just in limbo."

Whatever the outcome Thompson believes the situation must be resolved quickly in order to bring some stability to the club.

A shock FA Cup defeat to Barnsley has meant that the Champions League is their only chance of silverware this season and with Everton still putting the pressure on in the race for fourth place in the Premier League, he wants the ownership wrangle sorted out once and for all.

"It's quite astonishing what's going on but, as a fan, I just want some stability for my football club," he said. "It's not what we've had in the past so it's extremely difficult times."

"I don't know what tomorrow's going to bring. Every single day last week we had a different story coming out and the Sunday's (papers) were at it saying 'who are DIC to be showing documents that Liverpool have produced'.

"Who's in the right and who's in the wrong with all this? It's just so disappointing.

"Liverpool have won the Champions League, they've been to another final last year, but I, and all Liverpool fans, want to win the Premier League. If we finish fourth, that's good but not good enough."

Comments (2)

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Shah Ali (Liverpool fan) says...

I've known and loved Liverpool since I was a kid and in better times or worse we never had any problems with the team. If a manager were to under achieve he would be sacked and now we have the perfect manager and the owners wanted to sack him, whereas the actual problem are the owners and Hicks i just have one thing to say to you: 'Sell the club to DIC and take your money, your backside and your ego far away from Liverpool as you can and don't ever come back.' You messed up the beautiful team that was built years ago and I wonder how the likes of Dalglish and Rush etc are thinking about this situation, we already know how Thompson feels and it's not positive. This is partially Rick Parry's fault, he didn't have to hold talks with these yanks but he still did. Rick I used to really respect you and now I feel you have betrayed us and I bet Rafa felt like that when he thought he would get sacked. Rick you created this mess and if you love this club like we do then clean up the mess.

Posted 10:15 12th March 2008

Jon Oconnor (Liverpool fan) says...

As a supporter I just want the Americans out, even at the risk of DIC being slightly problematic. The ownership debacle gets worse by the day, first the Klinsmann deal then they have "no intention of selling" until of course the press prove them to be total liars, quickly followed by the deal being off/on every five minutes. Messers Hicks/Gillett, please get out of our club, you have no idea how to conduct yourselves as owners of this fine institution. The fans don't want you, please do the honourable thing, that is, take the money and run.

Posted 10:57 11th March 2008
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