The Sunday Supplement panel are unconvinced by Liverpool's prospective new owners' motives.
Potential new Liverpool owners don't have club's interests at heart
The Sunday Supplement panel were far from convinced the prospective new buyers at Liverpool will solve the club's troubles, should their offer be accepted by the Reds' owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks.
The American pair are reluctant to accept a bid from Boston Red Sox owner John W Henry for the club as the offer from his New England Sports Venture would leave them around £140m out of pocket.
However, Liverpool supporters, and the club's board, are keen to see a change of ownership at Anfield, following the club's tempestuous recent history under Gillett and Hicks.
The Sunday Supplement panel, though, were less convinced the motives and ambitions of Henry and his backers would bring the positive change the Kop are hoping for.
The Sun's Neil Custis said: "How is John W Henry interested in Liverpool?
"There is no way this bloke is buying Liverpool to do anything other than turn around a profit.
"He is not doing it to bring back the glory days - you want to put him on a quiz show and say 'tell us about the glory days'. He won't know anything about them.
"What worries me about these prospective new owners are the stories that if Liverpool receive a nine point deduction for going into administration on Tuesday then they won't take over the club.
"Straight away that says to me they couldn't care less about the football club.
"They won't care about the club if Liverpool slip behind, don't get in the Champions League and lose a bit of money.
"The Liverpool fans shouldn't have more faith in these potential new owners. They are swapping like for like."
No interest
Patrick Barclay of
The Times agreed. "Henry has got no interest in Liverpool any more than he has got an interest in Scunthorpe!
"The main reason Liverpool is in the mess it is in is because of the acquisition debt and ownership model permitted - seriously misguidedly - by the Premier League.
"The utterly hopeless Gillett and Hicks deserve to make a massive loss on this if there is any justice in the business world.
"Unfortunately the power in football is held now by people who have no emotion other than the desire to make a quick buck."
Pay for a vote
However, Custis and Barclay clashed on their opinions about how Liverpool can resolve the situation - with
The Times scribe insisting the Reds fans must put their hands into their own pockets if they want a say in the club's future.
"Any fan who thinks they buy themselves a vote by buying a replica shirt is mad," said Barclay. "Of course they don't.
"Fans in this country would rather put their hands in their pocket for a replica shirt or to allow their club to go into debt so they can have a year running around Wembley celebrating rather than putting their hand into their pockets and actually buying a stake in the club, which I think is the way forward."
However, Custis refuted Barclay's comments. "When you say the fans should show they care by buying a stake in the club do you realise how expensive these season tickets are? That's preposterous.
"Fans buy a stake in the club by buying a season ticket and going along and supporting the club. That's the biggest stake you can buy in a club."
Results
Danny Fullbrook of the
Daily Star added: "Ultimately, what football comes down to his results on the pitch.
"There wouldn't be so much furore about the ownership debt if Liverpool were winning football matches.
"If you look at the squad Roy Hodgson had to take over you can see millions and millions were wasted by Rafa Benitez.
"I blame the current crop of players and I blame Benitez for what is going on at the club now."
