Source: Daily_Mail
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson hails John Henry's takeover
Roy Hodgson has hailed the takeover at Liverpool - and vowed that fortunes on the pitch will also start to improve.[LNB]The reign of hate figures Tom Hicks and George Gillett is coming to an end after fellow American John W Henry agreed a £300m to buy the crisis club.[LNB] Delight: Roy Hodgson is hoping to revive the club's fortunes after the takeover is completed[LNB]It is welcome news for Hodgson, who has come under increasing pressure with Liverpool languishing in the relegation zone and out of the Carling Cup following a shock defeat to Northampton.[LNB]The Reds boss said: 'It's very positive and of course I'm delighted. It's been going on a long time and I know how hard the Board have worked to set things up.[LNB]'I know it's not easy for them because the owners have other ideas in terms of the sale of the club and what is achievable. But I was delighted to hear the news and have it confirmed that it looks like it is going to go through.'[LNB]Controversial owners Hicks and Gillett are being kicked out of Anfield with losses of £144million the price they will pay for dragging the club to the brink of chaos.[LNB]The revelation came as it was announced Liverpool had accepted a takeover bid from the owners of the Boston Red Sox baseball team, as revealed in yesterday's Sportsmail.[LNB] Woes: Luke Varney scores against Liverpool in Blackpool's shock victory on Sunday[LNB]The reviled Hicks and Gillett have launched alegal challenge to prevent the sale, which will be resolved in the HighCourt in the next five days, but Anfield insiders are confident they will fail.[LNB]Fans and players responded positively as details of the takeover by Henry's New England Sports Ventures (NESV) emerged.[LNB] It is understood the Red Sox group would stick by under-siege Hodgson and would aim to secure the future of the club's top players.[LNB]Now Hodgson, who faced calls to quit after the humiliating home defeat against Blackpool on Sunday, has promised that the club's fortunes on the pitch will be boosted in the light of the deal.[LNB]He added: 'Unfortunately when you lose matches, especially games like Sunday that people don't expect you to lose, it colours everything.[LNB] Loud and clear: Liverpool fans will happily wave goodbye to Tom Hicks and George Gillett[LNB]'It comes on the back of a Carling Cup defeat, albeit with a second team, so that adds to the woe - but in actually fact not much has changed.[LNB]'We know what we've got to do, we know we need some new players, we know we need investment, and we know we are weak in certain areas of the team - these things have been the case since I arrived at the club and we haven't had chance to put things right.[LNB]'What I ask of the fans is their patience, their trust and their belief, because we will get it right - there are no doubts about that. The club will be in a pretty healthy situation in general terms if the sale goes through.'[LNB] Red Sox chief tells shamed Hicks and Gillett: I'll smoke you out of LiverpoolHow Henry turned around the fortunes of another great club in declinePostcard from Boston: Henry is the shy suitor who wants to court the KopHicks and Gillett are set to count the cost of their Liverpool sagaTakeover timeline: Six tumultuous years behind the scenes at AnfieldFollow all the latest news and views on Liverpool[LNB] Explore more:People: Roy Hodgson, Tom Hicks, George Gillett, John Henry Places: Liverpool Organisations: Boston Red Sox
