Liverpool supporters hold protest

Liverpool fans staged a protest against owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett before Saturday's clash with rivals Manchester United at Anfield. 

The Spirit of Shankly group organised a march from Lower Breck Road to the stadium, but it did not stop Gillett taking his place in the directors' box. 

The organisation says it wants to direct its anger "towards those ruining our football club". 

Plans for a new stadium were delayed amid reports of financial problems. 

Hicks and Gillett have become increasingly unpopular among Reds fans since they took the club over in March last year, drawing criticism for their treatment of manager Rafael Benitez and their financial management of the club. 

Since taking charge, Liverpool's proposed new stadium has had two re-designs and the loans the pair took out to purchase the club have had to be refinanced. 

In addition, there has been continued speculation that Dubai International Capital, which tried to buy Liverpool before Gillett and Hicks took control, remain interested in buying out either one or both of them.

Within months of their arrival, Gillett and Hicks had a very public spat with Benitez over the Spaniard's transfer policy and at the start of 2008, Hicks revealed he had spoken to former Germany manager Jurgen Klinsmann in November about the possibility of taking over at Anfield. 

In March this year, Gillett said his relationship with Hicks had become "unworkable", although in June he said that communication between the pair had "substantially improved". 

Tensions between Benitez and the board resurfaced this summer with the manager criticising the failure to secure midfielder Gareth Barry from Aston Villa. 

And a Spirit of Shankly statement added: "What we need on Saturday is two resounding victories. Firstly, a march on a massive scale that tells the world that Liverpool has had enough of Gillett and Hicks.

"A march of passion, a march of anger, a march of Red solidarity that roars its message loud and proud: 'enough is enough, go now.' 

"This is the biggest club game in football and the world will be watching. Our second victory on Saturday comes when we take all that passion and pride inside the ground." 

Saturday's protest coincided with the demonstration expected at St James' Park, with Newcastle fans angry at the ownership of Mike Ashley and the departure of former manager Kevin Keegan.

Source:

http://news.bbc.co.uk

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