Liverpool director Tom Hicks Jnr abused fan via email

Last updated : 10 January 2010 By Telegraph

Hicks Jr is alleged to have called the fan an 'idiot' after receiving an email containing a web link to a newspaper article concerning the challenge facing the Liverpool manager, Rafael Ben?z, to cope with the club's £240million debt while keeping the team competitive.

Just before 4am on Friday in Texas (10am in the UK), where Hicks and his father, Tom, are based, Hicks is alleged to have sent a second message, reading: 'Go to hell. I'm sick of you.'

 Related ArticlesLiverpool near Rodr?ez signingRedknapp happy with Liverpool's requestNapoli sign Andrea DossenaLiverpool-Spurs match postponedTransfer TalkSport on televisionIan Ayre and Philip Nash, the club's commercial and financial directors, were both copied in on the email, sent via the web servers of Hicks Holdings, but sources at Liverpool insist neither received a message.

The club would not comment. Paul Rice, chairman of Spirit of Shankly, the Liverpool supporters' union, said: 'The comment is behaviour unbecoming a director of Liverpool Football Club and as such Tom Hicks Jnr's position as a director is untenable.'

Liverpool were looking into the incident on Saturday night but the fans' reaction highlights once again the tension between boardroom and stands at Anfield since Hicks senior and his business partner, George Gillett, bought the club almost three years ago. They remain heavily in debt.

Christian Purslow, the club's managing director, is seeking investors to take a 25 per cent stake in Liverpool for £100million in a bid to provide capital to restart work on the new stadium.

That may come too late for Ben?z, who can only spend what he can raise. The Spaniard's £1.2million capture of Maxi Rodriguez, the Argentine winger, is likely to be just one of two budget acquisitions by the club as they scramble to qualify for next season's Champions League.

 

Source: Telegraph

Source: Telegraph