Liverpool owner John W Henry has told fans ‘I’ve let you down’ as the Reds chief apologised for the club’s part in the failed European Super League.
The Boston-based American owner has been hammered by supporters for his betrayal and bringing shame to the historic club’s by signing up as a founding member of the elitist breakaway plan.
Liverpool, along with the rest of England’s so-called ‘top six’, were one of 12 founding members of the new Super League which planned to guarantee European football to the richest clubs.
But the plans were over before they began as all six Premier League sides pulled out on Tuesday, with the ESL expended to be disbanded after an almighty backlash from all levels of the sport.
Heads have already began to roll over the explosive attempt of a breakaway, with Ed Woodward announcing his resignation as Manchester United’s executive vice chairman.
Reds fans, and even Anfield legend Jamie Carragher, have since urged Henry and his Fenway Sports Group to be next and resign from their leadership of the Merseyside club.
But Henry insisted FSG’s ‘work isn’t done’ in a statement on Wednesday, as he offered a public apology to the club, manager Jurgen Klopp and supporters.
“I want to apologise to all the fans and supporters of Liverpool Football Club for the disruption I caused over the past 48 hours,” said the American.
“It goes without saying but should be said that the project put forward was never going to stand without the support of the fans. No-one ever thought differently in England. Over these 48 hours you were very clear that it would not stand. We heard you. I heard you.
“And I want to apologise to Jürgen, to Billy, to the players and to everyone who works so hard at LFC to make our fans proud. They have absolutely no responsibility for this disruption. They were the most disrupted and unfairly so. This is what hurts most. They love your club and work to make you proud every single day.
“I know the entire LFC team has the expertise, leadership and passion necessary to rebuild trust and help us move forward. More than a decade ago when we signed up for the challenges associated with football, we dreamed of what you dreamed of. And we’ve worked hard to improve your club. Our work isn’t done. And I hope you’ll understand that even when we make mistakes, we’re trying to work in your club’s best interests. In this endeavour I’ve let you down.
“Again, I’m sorry, and I alone am responsible for the unnecessary negativity brought forward over the past couple of days. It’s something I won’t forget. And shows the power the fans have today and will rightly continue to have.
“If there’s one thing this horrible pandemic has clearly shown, it’s how crucial fans are to our sport and to every sport. It’s shown in every empty stadium. It’s been an incredibly tough year for all of us; virtually no-one unaffected. It’s important that the Liverpool football family remains intact, vital and committed to what we’ve seen from you globally, with local gestures of kindness and support. I can promise you I will do whatever I can to further that.
“Thanks for listening.”
FSG supremo Henry, who also owns Major League Baseball franchise Boston Red Sox and their historic home Fenway Park, is worth a staggering $2.8BILLION.
And he, along with the owners of the 12 other ESL founding clubs, have been accused of greed for signing up to the £4.3bn-backed breakaway, which would have seen the big clubs guaranteed a place in the competition – and the money that goes with it – indefinately.
Liverpool fans reacted angrily to their club’s involvement, with a supporter group announcing they were stripping the Kop of its famous fan-made flags and banners.
Banners were also draped over Anfield’s famous Shankly Gates reading ‘LFC fans against European Super League’ and ‘Shame on You – RIP LFC – 1892-2021’.
The club’s players then issued their reaction, issuing a joint statement on social media after Jordan Henderson once again led Premier League-wide discussions with the top flight’s stars.
And before the Reds announced their U-turn on Tuesday, club legend Carragher has a venomous warning for Henry and FSG, saying they have ‘no future’ at the club and told them to ‘find a new buyer’.
“I actually think the situation with Liverpool’s owners is that l don’t see how they can continue,” Carragher told Sky Sports.
“They can’t just leave the club, obviously, the business is worth a lot of money, but I don’t see a future for the ownership of FSG at Liverpool on the back of this.
“This will never be forgotten.
“I think the best thing for them would be to find a new buyer. I think it will be very difficult for them to have any sort of relationship with Liverpool supporters and the club going forward.”