Parry's reign 'a disaster' - Hicks

12 April 2012

Tom Hicks branded Rick Parry's time as Liverpool chief executive "a disaster" and warned co-owner George Gillett that the stalemate over the club's future will continue until he agrees to sell his stake.

Hicks has demanded Parry's resignation and vowed that his top priority if Gillett were to sell to him would be to offer Reds manager Rafael Benitez a one-year extension to his current deal.

"Look at what's happened under Rick. It has been a disaster," claimed Hicks. "We have fallen so far behind the other leading clubs."

He added: "We should have the stadium built by now. We have a few major sponsors when we should have 15. We have still got the top brand in the world of football but that's no good if you don't know how to commercialise it.

"Rick needs to resign from Liverpool FC. He has put his heart into it but it is time for a change. You have to be able to work with the manager and Rick has proved he can't do that."

The Texan also revealed that he plans to rid the club of all debt by heading up a group of financial backers willing to invest in the club.

Hicks, who revealed that Parry had taken part in the meeting with Jurgen Klinsmann that undermined Benitez, blamed him for Liverpool's failure to compete commercially with their Premier League rivals in a Sky Sports News interview.

On the meeting in New York last year about Klinsmann becoming manager, Hicks added: "George became good friends with him (Klinsmann) a year ago. I get this call from George out of the blue in which he says 'have your people do their research on Klinsmann'.

"He and Rick set up the meeting in New York. I did go to the meeting along with my son Tom. Rick Parry had already met with Jurgen alone for a couple of hours when we arrived. We all then spoke to him for another four hours.

"Afterwards I told the truth to a reporter who asked the question and suddenly it is 'Tom Hicks tried to get Jurgen Klinsmann'. George initiated it but we all participated."

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