Kenny Dalglish has called for an end to the bitter war of words that has engulfed Anfield this season.
Dalglish, regarded as Liverpool's greatest player, has broken his silence as the ownership battled threatens to rumble on into the summer. Tom Hicks and George Gillett, the club's controversial co-owners, have reportedly not spoken for several months, and Hicks continues to scour the financial markets to try to raise the money needed to buy-out Gillett and fund the new stadium.
With Liverpool needing to sign a number of players in the summer to mount a serious challenge for the Premier League title, Dalglish says now is the time to end the civil war. "The current impasse cannot continue much longer," he said. "If you are looking for a positive to extract from the negatives [of the semi-final defeat at Chelsea] then maybe the absence of a final appearance in Moscow will allow all sides in the current boardroom battle to sit down and work out a solution that is best for this football club.
"Players around Europe are starting to look at where they want to play next season, and it is not fair for Rafa Benitez to try to enter negotiations with an arm behind his back. On the field we [Liverpool] are an attractive proposition. Off it you would have reservations about coming here while there is still issues to be resolved.
"How does Rafa get the sign-off to go after a player? Who signs it off and who negotiates the deal to a conclusion?"
Dubai International Capital (DIC), the investment arm of the Dubai government, remain determined to buy Gillett's share of the club and retain a long-term interest in a takeover.
"I hope it is resolved sooner rather than later," Dalglish added. "Both Tom Hicks and George Gillett declared that Liverpool FC meant more to them than an investment for financial gain. Now is the time for them to prove it - blame for the situation we find ourselves in helps no-one. All that matters is that we arrive at a workable solution that lets the manager get the bulk of his new players in before pre-season starts."
Dalglish, regarded as Liverpool's greatest player, has broken his silence as the ownership battled threatens to rumble on into the summer. Tom Hicks and George Gillett, the club's controversial co-owners, have reportedly not spoken for several months, and Hicks continues to scour the financial markets to try to raise the money needed to buy-out Gillett and fund the new stadium.
With Liverpool needing to sign a number of players in the summer to mount a serious challenge for the Premier League title, Dalglish says now is the time to end the civil war. "The current impasse cannot continue much longer," he said. "If you are looking for a positive to extract from the negatives [of the semi-final defeat at Chelsea] then maybe the absence of a final appearance in Moscow will allow all sides in the current boardroom battle to sit down and work out a solution that is best for this football club.
"Players around Europe are starting to look at where they want to play next season, and it is not fair for Rafa Benitez to try to enter negotiations with an arm behind his back. On the field we [Liverpool] are an attractive proposition. Off it you would have reservations about coming here while there is still issues to be resolved.
"How does Rafa get the sign-off to go after a player? Who signs it off and who negotiates the deal to a conclusion?"
Dubai International Capital (DIC), the investment arm of the Dubai government, remain determined to buy Gillett's share of the club and retain a long-term interest in a takeover.
"I hope it is resolved sooner rather than later," Dalglish added. "Both Tom Hicks and George Gillett declared that Liverpool FC meant more to them than an investment for financial gain. Now is the time for them to prove it - blame for the situation we find ourselves in helps no-one. All that matters is that we arrive at a workable solution that lets the manager get the bulk of his new players in before pre-season starts."
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