Spirit of Shankly are delighted to hear the news today that the failed ownership of Tom Hicks and George Gillett has come to an end. Our Union was formed to protect the Club and to specifically hold any owners to account and it is gratifying to see the efforts our members have made to removing them from their failed tenure.    

Liverpool Football Club are now rid of Hicks and Gillett and  this has been achieved through the magnificent efforts of the supporters, from the early days of formation in the Sandon Pub, calling Hicks and Gillett to account, to campaigning and protesting tirelessly. It is our members along with the help and backing of other groups from the worldwide support of Liverpool Football Club that has seen the back of Hicks and Gillett.

Hicks and Gillett made the mistake of underestimating our members’ commitment, passion and love for our football Club and they forgot that the passion that allegedly attracted them in the first place to Anfield was our most powerful weapon when their lies began.

Hopefully the era of their failed ownership has now gone and the Union can look forward to re-engagement with the Board and new owners, over the issues that are crucial to supporters such as ticketing, travel, a stadium solution and supporters securing an equity stake within the Club with the appropriate representation that would entail.

There is an opportunity for the Board and new owners NESV to reverse the disenfranchisement that has been recognised by the Club and to acknowledge that an independent and vibrant supporter base is only good for the Club.  The actions of the UK based Board members throughout the court cases cannot be ignored, and their contribution to ridding the club of Hicks and Gillett must be recognised. They have been victims of the lies told by their former employers and the mistakes made by their predecessors, which meant their words could not always be trusted by supporters until they were backed up by actions. We are delighted to see that in this instance their words have been backed by their actions and we commend this.

It is now time to put our Club back together and the Spirit of Shankly gives a cautious welcome to the Club’s new owners NESV and hopes they will not miss the opportunity of an early engagement to start the process of healing our Club.  Everyone connected to Liverpool Football Club – the owners, the Board, the manager and the fans needs to be pulling in the same direction in order to bring success back to Liverpool FC – this has been missing for far too long.

The Union’s Management Committee would again like to acknowledge the debt we owe to our members and the efforts and sacrifices they have made to achieve this success.

And hopefully, for the final time………………………..Tom and George, You’re Still Not Welcome Here.