Liverpool revolution not needed - Werner

20 January 2011 08:30

Liverpool chairman Tom Werner insists he does not need to oversee a revolution at Anfield but merely restore the principles on which the club built their success.

After a turbulent three-and-a-half-year period under former owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, an air of relative stability has been brought to matters off the pitch following October's £300million purchase by New England Sports Ventures.

"We (Liverpool) have a philosophy which has been successful for more than 100 years. All we need to do is live up to that philosophy," said Werner.

The new American owners, through NESV subsidiary Fenway Sports Group (FSG), have spent the intervening period assessing all aspects of the club.

And it has been time well spent as Werner does not believe drastic change is required, although that could not save former manager Roy Hodgson from losing his job after just six months in charge.

"It is a privilege to work for Liverpool," said Werner, who achieved success with principal owner John Henry and NESV with the Boston Red Sox baseball franchise.

"I hope the fans would recognise that we have been winners before, we have been judged in baseball as among the best owners.

"We don't want to over-promise and under-deliver but I hope they see we have certainly shown a commitment to moving forward, that we are not interested in short-term results.

"If we can show progress that is good, and hopefully we are building a management team which can produce success year in, year out as we have in Boston.

"There are challenges, we need to increase our match-day revenues, we need to have a club that is younger, but I am more encouraged by the essential foundation of Liverpool."

Source: PA