Moores looks to a memorable farewell.

[CharlieMansonsSquint]

Moores

Seconded.

Nice one Dave.

[shelly]

thank you for everything dave!
You're truly a fan!
respect to you!

[rushscored4]

Thanks for everything Mr Chairman including some wonderful memories at Wembley, Cardiff, Dortmund and Istanbul. Let's hope Messrs Gillett & Hicks can carry on your good work and bring us the Holy Grail, that league title which was always just out of reach...

[RedWolverine]

Moores

[lfc4ever]

A huge thank you & well done.

Hopefully you have ensured that the baton has been passed on from safe hands to ones just as safe.

Amen.

[lfc4ever]

http://football.guardian.co.uk/championsleague200607/story/0,,2028218,00.html

Wednesday March 7, 2007 The Guardian

Moores hands on great legacy for Gillett and Hicks to cherish

Anfield's new regime chose a perfect night for a first taste of European glory, writes Dominic Fifield

The changing of the guard went almost unnoticed amid the thunderous din which greeted Liverpool's eventual progress last night, although those who will shape the club's future could not help but be swept along by the ferocity of this occasion. Up in the directors' box, George Gillett and Tom Hicks sat entranced by the football phenomenon. "I've seen a lot of sporting events all around the world," said Hicks, "but nothing comes close to that."

Even in defeat, their first taste of a game as co-owners of the "Liverpool Reds" could not have been more enthralling on a momentous night in more ways than one. As the hosts scrambled into the quarter-finals, dethroning Barcelona en route, power was symbolically changing hands in the boardroom. Gillett and Hicks had already purchased some 62.2% of the club's shares and anticipate securing a 75% stake by March 12, a financial commitment effectively amounting to £435m. But, with the side not due to play at Anfield again until the visit of Arsenal on March 31, this was also David Moores' last match as chairman and, therefore, the end of an era.

Moores had seen it as a chance "to go out with a bang". It might have become a whimper after Eidur Gudjohnsen hauled the Catalans level on aggregate. Yet, for all that it was excruciating, this remained a game to savour even as Barcelona pushed for the decisive goal. As those around them chewed on their fingernails through the final exchanges, the Americans simply lapped it up.

Already, their investment appears enticing. The pair had emerged into the directors' box some 15 minutes before kick-off to be struck by the wall of noise already flung down by the Kop. They have spent the past 20 years accumulating sports clubs across North America, but had now ventured into new territory. Gillett had stood dumbstruck during the bellowed pre-match rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone, and again when it rang out in stoppage-time. "That was like nothing I've ever seen or heard," he said in the aftermath. The deafening noise also had his co-owner beaming in disbelief.

They had watched the first leg from a Canadian ski resort, and Saturday's defeat by Manchester United from the Rangers' spring training camp in Phoenix. Satellite television coverage could not have done those games justice. There was more to enjoy in the flesh, even if frustration lingered that a lead was never gleaned. Liverpool had had 10 shots by the time Barcelona mustered their first, a horribly awkward volley spooned over the bar by Ronaldinho met with howls of derision from the stands. The millionaires erupted in laughter at the crowd's reaction.

"Will I always have this much fun when I come to Anfield?" asked Hicks. "I'd heard so much about the fans, but that was spectacular. The Kop was just special." Twice in the first half the party in the directors' box joined the fans by rising as one as John Arne Riise and then Mohamed Sissoko rattled the Barcelona bar. Quite how Craig Bellamy, Dirk Kuyt and Riise were denied by Victor Valdes and Carles Puyol was a mystery.

But there were messages to heed in such profligacy. Liverpool have now lost their last two home games 1-0, despite generating a glut of opportunities. The first time the Americans demonstrate their clout in the transfer market, it will surely be to sign a striker. "Everyone involved with Liverpool wants to be the very best," said Hicks. "The new stadium's going to be very critical to that. People tell me about Chelsea's spending, but the team east of here [United] is the club we have our eye on. They've been competitive over a long period of time and that's what Liverpool has the opportunity to do."

That much had not escaped Moores. "The only regret is that we never won the Premiership under my chairmanship, but with the new owners I'm sure the club can win No19 soon," said Liverpool's chairman of 16 years. "In football nowadays, it's not enough to be rich. You need to be super-rich to own a club as big as Liverpool. I feel I'm leaving it in safe hands. I know I got the best possible deal."

It earned him £88m for his 51.6% stake. "But I made the decision for the good of the club, not myself," he insisted. "You have to think about the next 50 years. I told the Barcelona president, Joan Laporta, that I couldn't have picked a better game with which to bow out. Maybe it was meant to be this way."

He could have done with a goal to calm his nerves. His head was in his hands when Ronaldinho wriggled away and fired against a post, and then again when Gudjohnsen eked out a reward. Moores could hardly watch even if the new guard remained transfixed, perhaps still attempting to comprehend the away-goal rule. Drunk on the atmosphere, the last word was left to Hicks: "I wouldn't want to draw us in the next round. Would you?"

[lfc4ever]

http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/european/article2334931.ece

Delirious Anfield delivers roaring farewell to Moores era
By Andy Hunter
Published: 07 March 2007

Barcelona's demise as European champions was the over-riding objective but not the only era to close at Anfield last night. In contrast to the latest rich result in Liverpool's history, heralded as among the greatest by Jamie Carragher, the sub-plot to the main event generated mixed emotions as David Moores took his seat in the Anfield directors' box as chairman for the final time.

In the same row sat George Gillet Jnr and Tom Hicks, the wealthy Americans who last month confirmed not even the most rooted of major English clubs is immune from global market forces with their £435m takeover. In deference to shareholders torn between tradition and the promise of a new £215m stadium plus progress in pursuit of Manchester United and Chelsea, the multi-millionaires had kept away from their investment until their stake increased from 62.2 per cent to 75 per cent. They are not officially there yet (although acquiring the 90 per cent needed to trigger a complete takeover may prove the hardest part of the deal) but an initial outlay of £220m should reap some benefits and the best seats in the house against Barcelona seemed a fair return.

Ultimately, Liverpool's impending co-chairmen felt as victorious as Rafael Benitez. American sport has the arenas and the acreage on which to park a 4x4 and feast on a hamper but it does not have the atmosphere of nights like this. Gillet Jnr looked on open-mouthed as the stadium was turned into a sea of scarves and noise at kick-off and gladly signed autographs afterwards while Hicks, less ingratiated with the "Liverpool Reds" when his takeover was announced, received a crash-course in what European football means at Anfield.

"My first time at Anfield and everything I'd heard is true," said the Texan. "It was a special night, a wonderful occasion. I've seen a lot of sporting events all around the world but nothing that comes close to this." The outstanding Carragher went further. "Outside of winning cups and reaching finals, this is probably the greatest result even in Liverpool's European history."

Fresh riches from the Champions League are now Liverpool's but Hicks, owner of the Texas Rangers baseball team, insisted they will not follow the open cheque-book policy of a previous foreign owner captivated by Anfield's atmosphere, Roman Abramovich. "We're not going to do that, I promise. The team east of here is the club we have our eye on. They've been competitive over a long period of time and that's what Liverpool has the opportunity to do."

The future promises plenty for Liverpool but for Moores there was regret amid the excitement at the end of his 16-year reign. "I'm relieved all that's been resolved, but I'm also sad to be stepping down," said Moores, who received £88m from the Americans for his 51 per cent stake. "I couldn't have picked a better game with which to bow out. I made the decision for the good of the club, not myself. You have to think about the next 50 years. In football nowadays, it's not enough to be rich. You need to be super-rich to own a club as big as Liverpool. It's their club now, but I feel I'm leaving it in safe hands. I know I got the best possible deal." And a fine way to bow out.

[Mumsafan]

He was?
Any interesting comments?

He was also interviewed on the Beeb. He was quite good. Made a comment about Chelsea buying the title for 2 years and then fading - "I can promise you that won't be happening - we want this club to be staying at the top for a long time to come"