Source: Daily_Mail
Tom Hicks and George Gillett - the five ways they got it wrong at Liverpool
Tom Hicks[LNB]George Gillett[LNB]In a little over three-and-a-half years, the reign of Liverpool owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett has transformed from sparkling potential to abject failure.[LNB]But with the board accepting a takeover deal from American tycoon John Henry against their will, the duo are now staring at the exit door.[LNB]And before they are dragged out of Anfield kicking and screaming, Sportsmail looks at the five big mistakes that have led to their demise.[LNB]Stanley ParkThe wheels were already in motion over a move to Stanley Park before Hicks and Gillett were around. The club had been given a 999-year lease of the land in 2006 and work on the site was due to start a year later.[LNB]When the co-owners arrived, Gillett insisted there would be 'a spade in the ground within 60 days' of the new ownership coming in. Instead they ordered a new design of the stadium, effectively killing all the previous plans and creating delays.[LNB] Home from home? But despite a 'spade in the ground in 60 days' pledge, the Stanley Park stadium is no further forward than in 2007 [LNB]Embarrassingly, there had to be a further redesign after the new owners' own plans went beyond budget.[LNB]After gaining planning permission from Liverpool council in 2008, work was finally due to start on the site until the recession kicked in and cash to fund the project dried up.[LNB]Liverpool had hoped to be playing in their new ground in time for the 2011-12 season. With that date now less than a year away, Stanley Park resembles anything but a football stadium.[LNB]Handing Benitez a new dealThe saga dragged on for months. Having failed in a bid for Gareth Barry in 2008, Rafa Benitez was furious at the lack of financial backing by the board.[LNB]With his contract running down, Benitez was considering his options, especially after the owners' attempts to lure Jurgen Klinsmann.[LNB]Liverpool's storming start to the season saw them top going into 2009, strengthening Benitez's negotiation power and after hammering Real Madrid and Manchester United, the co-owners agreed with the Spaniard on a deal worth £5million a year until 2014.[LNB] Not worth the bother: Alberto Aquilani (left) and Rafa Benitez cost Liverpool dearly[LNB]They shouldn't have bothered. [LNB]Despite ending the 2008-9 season without a trophy, Liverpool were hotly tipped for the title the next campaign, but came nowhere near as they limped home in seventh.[LNB]Further embarrassments included being knocked out at home by Reading in the FA Cup and a group stage exit in the Champions League.[LNB]Just a year over agreeing a deal with Benitez, the co-owners had lost patience and agreed a settlement deal with the Spaniard to terminate his contract. [LNB]Something they could have done for much cheaper just a year before and without having to sign £17m flop Alberto Aquilani first.[LNB]Re-financing of loanUpon arriving at Anfield, Hicks and Gillett made clear that they had purchased the club with no debt saddled on top. However, Just a year on from the takeover, the co-owners had already agreed on loans, most notably with Royal Bank of Scotland.[LNB]In 2009, with their RBS loan repayment due, there were fears that the club could go bankrupt from the debt incurred by the loans from the bank.[LNB] Ray of hope? Liverpool fans show how they feel about the 'old' Americans[LNB]Just a month before their July deadline, Hicks and Gillett managed to agree a deal with the bank to re-finance the deal for another year, with Gillett selling one of his biggest stakes in Canada to help finance an agreement.[LNB]Last month and with the loan due for repayment looming, Hicks made a last-ditch attempt to remain in control of the club when he thought he received backing from the Blackstone Group to help finance the debt. [LNB]After the group received thousands of protests from fans, the deal never went through and the co-owners' position again became fragile.[LNB]Poor public relationsHicks Jr[LNB]If relations between the American owners and their fans were frosty, it was to get a whole lot worse after an extraordinary outburst by Tom Hicks son.[LNB]As a Liverpool director, Tom Hicks Jr responded to a fan's letter to the club concerning the finances by telling the supporter through an email, to 'blow me f*** face' and calling him an 'idiot'[LNB]After an angry response from fans at the clubs next home game, Hicks Jr resigned with an apology to the club, its supporters and even the fan in question. [LNB]But the damage had been done and the American duo became even more unpopular.[LNB]Civil war in the boardroomParry[LNB]Just a year into their ownership, Hicks and Gillett had a massive fall-out over the running of the club which left the pair refusing to speak to each other.[LNB]Hicks was in favour of ditching chief executive Rick Parry, claiming that he had not done enough to bring in major sponsors and make progress with the Stanley Park plans.[LNB]Gillett, a Parry supporter, was angered by the decision not to raise concerns with him or the board first.[LNB]Hicks also revealed he would make an 'attractive offer' to buy his share of the club and at the height of the fall-out Gillett accused his partner of bringing 'turmoil' to the club.[LNB]Although the pair later patched up their differences, the spat did nothing to enhance their reputation among supporters.[LNB] Rio Ferdinand wins back captain's armband from Steven Gerrard for England's crunch qualifier with MontenegroLiverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina hits out at Kop chaos as takeover saga rumbles on Dalglish: I feel for the Liverpool fans after this sorry sagaLiverpool 'can show Hicks and Gillett lied' over loading debt onto clubLiverpool chief Purslow insists £300m takeover bid will succeed Anfield deal on brink of collapse: Liverpool's US buyers will walk away if club are docked points LIVERPOOL FC NEWS ROM ACROSS THE WEB[LNB][LNB] Explore more:People: Rick Parry, Tom Hicks, Rafa Benitez, John Henry, Gareth Barry, Alberto Aquilani, George Gillett Places: Liverpool, Canada
