quite rightly argues that the players can't use ownership as an excuse, but has the feel of an apologist. Sounds like we're being set up for groundshare as well....
Liverpool's financial problems shouldn't be used as an excuse
Last updated at 9:19 PM on 25th September 2010
Comments (0) Add to My Stories I am not only a former Liverpool player and manager but a Liverpool fan as well, someone who cares deeply about the club. It is in that spirit that I'm using my column this week to address other Liverpool supporters in what I hope is an open and truthful way about the club's current situation and where we go from here.
If minds were not focused already that this is a difficult and transitional period for the club, the midweek Carling Cup exit at Anfield against Northampton Town, of League Two, has certainly done so.
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Famous night: Northampton players celebrate on a memorable night for the League Two club at Anfield
Disaster is a very emotive word that doesn't sit well describing a football result, so we should steer clear of clichés like that.
There is no doubt it was a hugely disappointing night that followed on from defeats by Manchester United and Manchester City in the Premier League. I wrote last week that defeat at Old Trafford last Sunday would realistically mean our chances of winning the Premier League title would be over in September. But the way Liverpool played in the last half hour against Sunderland and their attitude will hold them in good stead, even though it has been a difficult start to the season.
I can understand why recent results must have come as a huge shock to Liverpool fans. Two or three generations have known only success and you'd have to go back to the pre-Bill Shankly days of 1959 for anything similar to Northampton. But there mustn't be any hiding or excuses from the players even if Liverpool's current predicament is not ideal. If they let things get on top of them, the club has no chance.
When it rains: Liverpool captain Sotirios Kyrgiakos, left, and manager Roy Hodgson after the cup defeat by Northampton Town
Everyone knows the ownership situation but that should never affect how the players prepare or perform. There is no reason experienced internationals should be distracted from their jobs and they shouldn't need Roy Hodgson to remind them.
If the club is up for sale, the best way for players to deal with it is to get results on the pitch and make it a more attractive proposition to buy.
I never celebrated winning a trophy at Liverpool by thinking: 'It's all down to the owners - they are brilliant.' So if owners don't receive credit then, neither can players look to blame them or anyone else in defeat.
Maybe Roy will be able to improve the team if new owners come in by shopping at the more exclusive end of the transfer market. But that doesn't give the current players a get-out to avoid responsibility.
MY message to them would be to leave the business side of things for managing director Christian Purslow to be concerned about.
While you find in any walk of life people who don't need much encouragement to find excuses, we don't want them at Liverpool right now.
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There are fans, of course, who have a grievance with the American owners and there is no reason to stop any peaceful protests if they feel that is the right thing to do.
After all, they have supported the club fantastically in the past. Tom Hicks and George Gillett have put the club up for sale and want to sell. But they, and we, can't just grab someone off the street and make them buy the club to ensure a change of ownership.
It is not as if buying Liverpool is loose change in somebody's pocket, you are talking about sums of money that not too many people have at their disposal. Investors will be looking to see what returns they might get because there are no guarantees at the moment. Who knows what the value of football clubs is going to be in years to come?
At the moment, there is a recession, people are losing their jobs and some fans are finding it hard to afford to go to matches with their children.
So there are no foregone conclusions. No guarantees. You put your house up for sale, it doesn't automatically mean it is sold. Christian is scouring the market and he's helped by Liverpool having so much to offer - tradition, history, values and worldwide recognition. But at the end of the day, you've still got to find a buyer.
The perfect scenario would be for someone to come in, clear the debt, give Roy a fortune to spend in the transfer market and build a new stadium. But that doesn't necessarily mean it is going to happen and of the three segments, maybe the one you could possibly place third in the list of importance is the stadium. It is really important that the debt gets cleared to give people a chance to work and I think it is really important that Roy has a sizeable budget.
I am sure anyone with new ideas would be listened to. If someone came in and said he could clear the debt and give Roy a budget for players but couldn't afford to build a stadium, it might be something for people more intelligent than me to look at.
It's probably true that more people are becoming sympathetic to a ground-share with Everton if a third party came forward able to build it, with the two clubs renting. Again, it is not the ideal situation: that would be to keep the two clubs in two separate stadiums with vibrant atmospheres of their own.
But this is not an ideal time for either club and I'm sure they would sit down and have a conversation with each other about it if there was a feeling it would be beneficial. It's not anyone's personal views that is important - it is about what is best thing for the club. I don't know if it will ever happen but maybe you need a few people to sit down and say that although it's not what they want in a perfect world, it's worth looking at.
Whoever is in a position of responsibility at Liverpool and Everton are only custodians for the next generation of supporter. They owe it to the fans to look at every possibility to help their respective clubs.
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Roll on Monday and payday 
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