George Gillett: We’re right behind Rafa Benitez
Dec 17 2007 by Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo
GEORGE Gillett gave Rafa Benitez his unequivocal backing after Liverpool’s American owners held clear the air talks with the Reds boss at Anfield.
Benitez met with Gillett, co-owner Tom Hicks, Foster Gillett and Rick Parry for three hours following the 1-0 home defeat to Man United and the outcome was positive with all involved agreeing to bury their differences and work together for the good of the club.
And Parry today told the ECHO the club is still totally committed to delivering a stadium which the fans can be proud of, despite having to axe the futuristic design launched in the summer because of rising costs.
In an address to the Liverpool Former Players Association at a city centre hotel - just hours after talks with Benitez - George Gillett spoke of his regret over the fall out with the Spaniard but insisted his immediate future at the club is secure.
He told an audience of Liverpool playing legends: “This wasn’t supposed to happen, but it has happened, and now the focus has to be on finding a common platform to continue our co-operation.
“Rafa is the one we want as a manager further on, and we have faith in him.
“I’ve been married over 40 years and have first hand knowledge about how to solve an argument!
“We concentrated on getting an overview over the situation, and I felt we accomplished that.”
Gillett was guarded about the imminent opening of the transfer window but spoke again about his role as a custodian of the club.
He added: “The transfer window opens soon and we might use the option that gives us, or we might not.
“Liverpool is a great club. We are well aware that we have something very valuable on our hands.
“Liverpool is not our club, it’s your club. The supporters’ club. It’s always been that way, and it will always be that way.”
Meanwhile, Rick Parry today admitted Liverpool have had to shelve their futuristic stadium design for Stanley Park because of spiralling costs, not due to the credit crunch in America, as reported elsewhere.
Liverpool are now considering their options but Parry moved to reassure fans that the club remains confident that a new stadium will be delivered in time for the start of the 2011/2012 season, in keeping with the original timescale.
He said: “We are now considering two schemes but the stadium will be a 70,000 seater.
“The new stadium will be a significant improvement on the original plans and a slightly downgraded version of the new ones.
“And it will be a massive improvement on where we were 12 months ago, if not quite as dramatic as the plans unveiled in the summer.
“The single tier Kop remains fundamental to the design and we are not expecting any delays – it should be on schedule for 2011.”
