Hicks Jnr. resigns, Reds appoint 3 new directors

Liverpool FC today announced the resignation of Tom Hicks Junior from the club’s board of directors, following the events over the weekend.

Sports - December 16, 2007

Hicks Jnr. sent an abusive email to a concerned Liverpool fan over the weekend, which lead to much media coverage and calls from LFC supporters union Spirit of Shankly for him to resign. He apologised to the fan but his position had become untenable.

An LFC statement today said:

“Liverpool Football Club today announce that Thomas Hicks Jr has resigned as a director of both the club and its parent company Kop Holdings.”

Hicks, the son of co-owner Tom Hicks Snr. has been replaced on the board by the executive vice president of Hicks Holdings, Casey Coffman.

Liverpool have also announced the addition of chief financial officer, Philip Nash, and commercial director, Ian Ayre, to the board of directors.

Coffman, Nash and Ayre join Hicks Snr., co-owner George Gillett, Gillett’s son Foster, and managing director Christian Purslow on the club’s board.

Hicks Jnr. apologised for the abusive email he sent, saying:

“I have great respect for Liverpool Football Club, especially the club’s supporters.

“I apologise for my mistake and I am very sorry for my harmful words.

“I do not want my actions to take away from the club’s future, therefore I am resigning from the board.

“To the fans and to the club, please accept my sincerest apologies.”

Spirit of Shankly welcomed the resignation, saying:

“Spirit of Shankly welcomes the resignation of Tom Hicks Junior from the Board of Liverpool FC and its parent company.

This Club has standards – on the field, off the field, on the terraces and in the Boardroom.

The standards we have seen exercised in the Boardroom have been unbefitting of this great Club since Hicks Junior, his father, George Gillett and other associates arrived at the Club, with false promises.

Tom Hicks and George Gillett bought the club and talked of respecting the legacy and tradition, as well as family values, the club being passed onto their children. If these are the kind of values they see fit for Liverpool Football Club, and this is how they respect our legacies and traditions, it underlines the need to remove them from the club.

The action taken by the Union to publicise and seek Tom Hicks Junior’s removal is another part of us saying “If you won’t recognise our standards then we will remind you again and again until you do”.

The action taken here by the Union and fans shows that we do have some power and influence. All that is needed now is for Dad, Uncle George and the rest of the entourage to follow.”