Relief for Rafa

Last updated: 21st January 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Relief for Rafa

Hetherington: Good news for Benitez

Gillett and Hicks don't understand the way that football works and the Jurgen Klinsmann situation was an example of that.

Paul Hetherington,Daily Star on Sunday
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Speculation continued on Sunday morning in the newspapers about the future of Liverpool Football Club amid rumours that a Dubai-based group was prepared to launch another bid to the buy the club from American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

Dubai Investment Capital (DIC), the company beaten to the purchase of Liverpool by Hicks and Gillett are reported to be back in town with a £500m bid for the club.

Not only might this bid appeal to the Americans, rumoured to be increasingly concerned about their needs to refinance the debt they took on to buy the club in order to continue plans to build a new stadium, it might also appeal to the manager, Rafael Benitez.

The relationship between the Americans and the Spaniard have been publicly shown to be strained but if Gillett and Hicks are leaving Liverpool, then Benitez's long term future at the club could be secure once again, with the Arabs keen to keep Benitez on board.

That was the argument Paul Hetherington of the Daily Star on Sunday made on the Sunday Supplement this week.

"It has got to be good news for him," said Hetherington, "because his relationship with the American owners is fraught to say the least.

"Gillett and Hicks don't understand the way that football works and the Jurgen Klinsmann situation was an example of that. I am not saying that clubs don't go around tapping up managers to replace the guy that they have got if they don't want him but they don't come out and admit it publicly.

"You can admire their honesty, they haven't told a lie, they haven't ducked. They have done it the American way, they Americans like being up front and bold about things. That's obviously the way they see things being done and should be done but it is not the way things are done in English football.

"It is good news for Benitez and I am certain that he will be delighted. DIC looked like taking control of the club before the Americans seemed to come from nowhere to pip them, and it has to be good news for Benitez if there is a change of ownership.

"He is aware of what they (Gillett and Hicks) have been doing, they have been playing games and he has wanted to get his message across."

Comments (13)

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George Schroeder (Liverpool fan) says...

Am I the only one who blames Moores and Parry for this fiasco? Parry by all accounts would have been out of a job if DIC took over. I don't remember any fan thinking DIC should not take over, as everyone now know the yanks do not understand football their arrogance is beyond belief and arrongance is something you have to put towards Rafa. We went along this "in Ged we Trust" and the same thing is happening again with Rafa. We all love this team and I have supported them for 34 years so we are entitled to have an opinion. Why is Kewell starting ahead of Babel is he Rafa's love child?

Posted 22:44 21st January 2008

Jon Hew (Liverpool fan) says...

Get em out, they're a major distraction for the team. What happened with Jurgen was a disgrace. Well, they probably know how to run NFL & NHL but soccer, I think they're miles behind. Let Rafa do the job his hired to do, that is bring success to Liverpool.

Posted 11:03 21st January 2008

Garry Tay (Liverpool fan) says...

Get Hicks and Gillet out because they're obviously in the wrong game for different reasons. Get Benitez out because he's lost it with his rotation policy when the results beg to stop, he just keeps going. Respect to the latter for all he's done in terms of winning the Champions league and FA Cup. Time for someone to instill confidence in them players and quit the habit of passing back all the time. Worst buy since Traore has to be Momo, Kyut is not even firing blanks to begin with and along with 20 odd other players he's bought, either loaned out or not playing, sell the lot off amd quit wasting the club's money. With hope that the rumours are true about the special one taking the helm.

Posted 06:06 21st January 2008

Jack Teoh (Liverpool fan) says...

As a Liverpool fan and Benitez fan, I am always hoping that Liverpool will success with the squad already had.But, truthly, Liverpool is lack of attacking with the right wing and if possible, an option to bring Joaquin to Anfield will be a good way. Why i said like that ? It is because winger play an important role while attacking or when the team is playing counter-attack. Off-field issues are totally affected the club to get the results with the issues always been there almost every week. When we are talking about Benitez rotation policy, we found out that he shouldn't rotate the player so frequently as it will affect the player fitness or the form where the players have. If can, try to play more confidently and spirit.

Posted 06:03 21st January 2008

B Q (Liverpool fan) says...

With all respect to Moores, wasn't he the one who "chose" Gillett & Hicks over DIC? I wonder if he would admit to making the wrong decision if a change of ownership does take place.

Posted 05:14 21st January 2008

Alan Kennedy (Liverpool fan) says...

When I'm reading articles about how the owners are looking for a way to refinance their loan, I start to worry. Why buy something if you cant' afford it? I always felt the DIC bid made more sense but embraced Hicks and Gillett when they bought the club. However, I'd trade new owners who respect Rafa and what he's trying to do, rather than have Hicks and Gillett sack him and set us back years! We're not there yet but were getting there and if they couldn't afford to sit at the table with the big boys then they really shouldn't have bought the club.

Posted 23:19 20th January 2008

Asif Patel (Liverpool fan) says...

Enough is enough. Get them out as it is clearly affecting the manager and he is unable to focus on the job in hand. The sooner this is sorted the better and we can move on.

Posted 22:53 20th January 2008

Nazir Amin (Liverpool fan) says...

Tom Hicks OUT! It sickens me about what's been going on in public with our club. The final straw was when he revealed employing klinsmann. Which shows he knows nothing about the english game. No offence to Jurgen. But the least that should be done over the ownership of our club now is that Tom should sell his stake. Since they both took over our club they've been causing nothing but trouble. It's disgrace. YNWA

Posted 19:17 20th January 2008

Jack Meoff (Liverpool fan) says...

Get them out ? They own the place. How do you kick your landlords out ? I'm not overkeen on them staying now, but they not only have the upper hand - they have the whole hand ! As long as Rafa stays..........anything else is tolerable.

Posted 18:27 20th January 2008

Les Amos (Liverpool fan) says...

I think it would be great if Dubai Investment Capital (DIC) bought Liverpool from the Americans not only will it restore order at the club it will also hopefully give Rafa more funds. I think Liverpool are still short of world class quality on the flanks and a another world class striker it will also give Rafe time to develop Babel

Posted 16:56 20th January 2008

Mark Hicks (Liverpool fan) says...

I totally agree with you. Get rid of them and keep Rafa. Club owners who don't understand the game aren't welcome. For example why haven't they given the money to sign masch permanently, who wouldn't want such a great player in their team.

Posted 16:24 20th January 2008

Gareth Jones (Liverpool fan) says...

The Americans are turning Liverpool into a laughing stock. Once they bought the club that has been enough for them. False promises about signings and the stadium, we have to sell players to get more in!! They are obviously more interested in their NFL and NHL teams, I don't want this type of owner at Liverpool. Please sell up, let us be run by somebody who cares. A note to Rafa: great job but stick to your best team!!

Posted 15:36 20th January 2008

Keith Bradley (Liverpool fan) says...

This thing has gone far enough with Tom Hicks and George Gillet. They don¿t understand the English game. Get them out, they are bringing the club down.

Posted 13:59 20th January 2008
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