There's more on this in tomorrows times which is on their website now, though I can't copy it from my phone.
Tom Hicks Jr was under mounting pressure to resign from the Liverpool board last night.
Hicks sent an offensive e-mail to a supporter and triggered a row that has led to a fans’ group accusing the club of “a conspiracy of silenceâ€.
Hicks — the son of Tom Hicks, the Liverpool co-owner — sparked outrage at the weekend when he responded to an e-mail from Stephen Horner, a supporter, with consecutive abusive replies. The first simply said “idiotâ€, but the second said: “Blow me, f**kface. Go to hell, I’m sick of you.â€
He has since apologised, but the Texan’s contrition has failed to quell growing calls for him to quit the club.
The Spirit of Shankly (SOS), a fans’ campaign group committed to the removal of Hicks Sr and George Gillett Jr, released a statement demanding the immediate resignation of Hicks Jr.
It was also heavily critical of the Liverpool hierarchy for remaining silent on the matter. On several occasions yesterday The Times sought a reaction from Liverpool, but to no avail. Freud Communications, the London-based PR firm employed by the Hicks family, also failed to offer any comment on the matter.
“It is a great surprise and an even greater disappointment that Liverpool Football Club have thus far failed to make any comment on what we feel is a very serious matter,†James McKenna, a spokesman for SOS, said.
“Is this what the club has come to, that a board member can speak in such derogatory terms to a supporter but can go without censure or any public criticism? The conspiracy of silence which has followed this unsavoury incident is totally unbecoming of a club which has always prided itself on its relationship with the fans.
“Are we to presume that the Liverpool hierarchy condones the comments made by Tom Hicks Jr or is it simply a case that the deeply flawed regime of Hicks and Gillett has left the entire club in a state of paralysis?
“Surely the very least the Liverpool supporters deserve is an open and honest explanation from the club, an indication on their feelings about the objectionable behaviour of such a senior member of the board and a commitment that such an incident will not happen again.â€
Horner had sought comments from Hicks about a weekend article in a local newspaper, following up revelations in The Times last Tuesday about Rafael BenÃtez, the Liverpool manager, not being allowed to reinvest the proceeds from the planned sales of four players during the transfer window.
Hicks’s subsequent admission at least ended any debate about whether he had actually sent the offensive e-mail, but it has done little to negate the growing sense of outrage on Merseyside. Hicks told Horner: “I apologise for losing my temper and using bad language with you. It was a kneejerk reaction.â€
Horner said: “The damage has been done by Hicks’s initial two e-mail messages that he sent me on Saturday morning and the apology received later in the day is hollow and probably a PR exercise.
“Hicks Jr should resign with immediate effect and it is time that Gillett and Hicks sold up and handed the reins over to people who understand the Liverpool way. They are not welcome at Anfield and should name their price and begin negotiations with more suitable investors who can take this great club forward.â€
McKenna said: “For one of the directors of the club, and the son of one of the owners, to respond to a fanwith genuine concerns in such a manner is unacceptable.â€
FIRST JOB: Pharmacy clerk at a drug store.
WHY SPORTS: I am a lawyer by training and went to law school thinking I would be a sports agent. I joined the Coca-Cola Co. out of law school and scratched an itch to live abroad (which I did, for about five years). After that, I was ready to pursue a job in the sports business.
WHY YOU LIKE IT: I love the games! Sports are great drama, you have to play the games to determine a winner. I also love that we provide so much entertainment to so many different types of people. Sometimes it’s tough because our business is so public.
SUCCESS STRATEGIES: I have worked hard, tried to always find solutions to issues and hired great people.
DEFINING CAREER MOMENT: Getting out of the day to day practice of law and taking on responsibilities across the entire business.
PROUD MOMENT: Being named COO of Hicks Sports Group. It formalized the role that I was effectively doing before the title and allowed me to work with really great management throughout our entire organization.
ULTIMATE CAREER GOAL: I would like to be CEO of a global sports, media or entertainment company.
MENTORS: My parents. Mother taught me that there is no mess too big to clean up. Dad instilled in me the same work ethic he had…work hard and smart.
BEST ADVICE: Don’t expect to be treated differently because you are a woman, and then you won’t !
GIVING BACK: I am a Big Sister to my little brother David in Big Brothers Big Sisters. We have been matched almost seven years. Mentoring children is a proven effective way to change their lives for the better.
AFTER HOURS: Travel, play golf.
FAVORITE BOOK: Business: “The Tipping Point,†Pleasure: “Confederacy of Duncesâ€
FAVORITE WEB SITES: Wall Street Journal and Sports Business Daily.
HISTORICAL ROLE-MODEL: Condoleezza Rice. I would love to be part of the President’s most trusted confidants and she served in that role at a very interesting and defining time in our country and its place in the world.