We'll go toe-to-toe with the scum
Anfield owner vows: We’ll go
toe-to-toe with Manchester United
Roy Hodgson receives a promise of support and is likely to have a £25m fund for transfers while Steven Gerrard was 'reassured' about Liverpool's future
Jonathan Northcroft
Published: 17 October 2010
The new owners of Liverpool have promised “to go toe-to-toe with Manchester United” and restore the club to its once-cherished position of English football’s No1. John Henry delivered the pledge — which had echoes of Sir Alex Ferguson’s vow to “knock Liverpool off their f***ing perch” upon becoming United manager 24 years ago — at Anfield yesterday flanked by Tom Werner, his fellow chief of New England Sports Ventures (NESV), who completed their protracted £300m takeover of Liverpool on Friday.
Henry and Werner had spent the morning getting to know Roy Hodgson and his players, and sat next to Steven Gerrard at a lunch. They told Hodgson that he will be retained as manager and “reassured” the captain on Liverpool’s future.
Tomorrow the owners will meet Christian Purslow, Liverpool’s managing director, and hold their first serious discussions on transfer plans. NESV have promised to fund the club handsomely and up to £25m could be made available for Hodgson to spend in the January transfer window — equivalent to the amount Liverpool will save on interest payments this year, after NESV cleared £260m of debts accrued by Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
Having initially said they would wait for a home game to watch their new team for the first time, Henry admitted “it will be hard to stay away” from the derby with Everton at Goodison Park this afternoon. “To get this club to where it should be, to where it needs to be, is going to be tough. It’s not going to happen overnight [but] we are all committed to the long-term future,” Henry said.
On where Liverpool “needs to be”, he added: “In Boston we’ve gone toe-to-toe with the New York Yankees, which is the same as going toe-to-toe with Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.”
Agreeing that to complete a full restoration, NESV will need to oversee the club’s first Premier League title win since 1990, Henry remembered how NESV’s ownership helped Boston Red Sox win baseball’s World Series for the first time in 86 years.
He said: “I’m not going to make any promises. It took us three seasons [to become champions] at Fenway Park [the Red Sox stadium]. We would settle for three seasons [before winning the Premier League] too.”
Hodgson was given the owners’ backing after meeting them at the Melwood training ground. Henry and Werner see a key tenet of sporting success as “stability” and the Red Sox have had the same coach, Tony Francona, since 2003.
“We know it’s been an uncertain time. We talked to the players today and we talked to Roy. And I think our message was simple. We’re here to support you and encourage you,” Werner said.
“I think we have done everything we can thus far to assure him [Hodgson] that we are not here to make changes, we are here to build,” Henry added. He balked at suggestions that players have been scarred by the uncertainty caused by the dysfunctional last days of Hicks and Gillett and the ownership battle played out in London’s High Court. “Do you not think they’re stronger than that?” he asked.
Henry and Werner promised to “explore all options” on Liverpool’s stadium, though a groundshare with Everton looks unlikely.
Sunday Times
Anfield owner vows: We’ll go
toe-to-toe with Manchester United
Roy Hodgson receives a promise of support and is likely to have a £25m fund for transfers while Steven Gerrard was 'reassured' about Liverpool's future
Jonathan Northcroft
Published: 17 October 2010
The new owners of Liverpool have promised “to go toe-to-toe with Manchester United” and restore the club to its once-cherished position of English football’s No1. John Henry delivered the pledge — which had echoes of Sir Alex Ferguson’s vow to “knock Liverpool off their f***ing perch” upon becoming United manager 24 years ago — at Anfield yesterday flanked by Tom Werner, his fellow chief of New England Sports Ventures (NESV), who completed their protracted £300m takeover of Liverpool on Friday.
Henry and Werner had spent the morning getting to know Roy Hodgson and his players, and sat next to Steven Gerrard at a lunch. They told Hodgson that he will be retained as manager and “reassured” the captain on Liverpool’s future.
Tomorrow the owners will meet Christian Purslow, Liverpool’s managing director, and hold their first serious discussions on transfer plans. NESV have promised to fund the club handsomely and up to £25m could be made available for Hodgson to spend in the January transfer window — equivalent to the amount Liverpool will save on interest payments this year, after NESV cleared £260m of debts accrued by Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
Having initially said they would wait for a home game to watch their new team for the first time, Henry admitted “it will be hard to stay away” from the derby with Everton at Goodison Park this afternoon. “To get this club to where it should be, to where it needs to be, is going to be tough. It’s not going to happen overnight [but] we are all committed to the long-term future,” Henry said.
On where Liverpool “needs to be”, he added: “In Boston we’ve gone toe-to-toe with the New York Yankees, which is the same as going toe-to-toe with Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.”
Agreeing that to complete a full restoration, NESV will need to oversee the club’s first Premier League title win since 1990, Henry remembered how NESV’s ownership helped Boston Red Sox win baseball’s World Series for the first time in 86 years.
He said: “I’m not going to make any promises. It took us three seasons [to become champions] at Fenway Park [the Red Sox stadium]. We would settle for three seasons [before winning the Premier League] too.”
Hodgson was given the owners’ backing after meeting them at the Melwood training ground. Henry and Werner see a key tenet of sporting success as “stability” and the Red Sox have had the same coach, Tony Francona, since 2003.
“We know it’s been an uncertain time. We talked to the players today and we talked to Roy. And I think our message was simple. We’re here to support you and encourage you,” Werner said.
“I think we have done everything we can thus far to assure him [Hodgson] that we are not here to make changes, we are here to build,” Henry added. He balked at suggestions that players have been scarred by the uncertainty caused by the dysfunctional last days of Hicks and Gillett and the ownership battle played out in London’s High Court. “Do you not think they’re stronger than that?” he asked.
Henry and Werner promised to “explore all options” on Liverpool’s stadium, though a groundshare with Everton looks unlikely.
Sunday Times
Comment