Liverpool Chiefs Werner & Henry: "Unacceptable" Form, Stadium, Transfers & More

On Monday afternoon, Liverpool principle owner John W. Henry, chairman Tom Werner and commercial director Ian Ayre all spent a couple of hours on the comfy-looking chairs at LFC TV studios to take calls from Liverpool supporters, live on air, on a range of subjects such as the January transfer window, the latest stadium plans and, of course, the position of Roy Hodgson as manager.

In the first part, it should be lauded that the new owners of the club were brave enough to face the inevitable questions from fans, while an insight into the inner workings of the club are always welcome to all those looking in.

The main focus of many fans did indeed focus on Hodgson and the manager's job as a whole, but other topics were touched on and in many ways offered a better look at the re-structuring work going on through the whole club since Henry and Werner came into Liverpool in a blaze of courtroom-based glory, just two months ago.

Cathedral

One caller phoned up regarding the redevelopment of Anfield.

His priority and preference, he stated, was for the current stadium, the hallowed turf of Anfield, to be kept and redeveloped.

A Cathedral of football, he said, renowned world-wide for its history, tradition and spirit. Not to mention its ambience, as pointed out by John Henry. His call was followed by another, a lady supporter, who also embraced the need to keep the personalisation and character of Anfield.

The stadium debate is a big one for Liverpool. There is no doubting the merits of the above points—as anyone who has been present on a big European night will testify—but the fact of the matter is, having an extra 15.000 supporters at each game will generate Liverpool Football Club a minumum of £11.4 million per season.

That figure is based on tickets for league matches only; any domestic or European cup matches would increase that figure, as would all the extra merchandise, programme sales and match-day experience goods (food and drink etc) purchased by the extra fans.

And if Anfield cannot be sufficiently redeveloped, a new stadium is a must.

It was also asked, yet again, of the owners to provide assurances that a ground-share with neighbours Everton was not an option.

The answer: "If the fans don't want it, it seems a non starter."

Given that around 90% of fans seem to range between not liking the idea of it and point-blank refusing to entertain the matter, I would like to think we can finally lay this subject to rest: There will be no ground share with Everton.

Although the official line given was that the matter was still under study and no decision has been taken (which I'm sure is true, given the time-frame they have had to work under so far), it certainly seemed to me that the preference would be for Anfield to be redeveloped.

The advantages with such a move are obvious: No new huge stadium debt, keeping all the heritage and history of Anfield and bringing the stadium into a new era. Plus, there has been much recent work undertaken at Anfield, such as the opening of a new restaurant, The Boot Room.

I remain rather unsure that a full redevelopment will be able to take place. I'd love for it to happen, I'm sure every fan would, but I just don't see it.

Stanley Park is, to all those who have been in Liverpool at least, almost as synonymous with the club as Anfield is itself. 

Thinking back, I lose count of the number of times I walked through it on the way to the match or drove around it (always looking towards it so as to avoid the view of Goodison) on the way to or from my aunt and uncle's house.

I would have no qualms about upping sticks from Anfield to Stanley Park, if it was the right move for the club.

That decision, however, is for the future, and other fans called in with far more pressing matters.

Short-term Decisions

Henry alluded to a period of short-sightedness, which had characterised at least the latter part of the previous regime.

Perhaps that is unfair; at times, it seems as though the previous owners had no sense of foresight or planning at all, short or long term.

In any case, it is clear they strongly disapprove of transfer dealings which the club have allowed to happen recently.

His recent goals notwithstanding, the free transfer of Maxi Rodriguez in January of last year, surely must be at the forefront of their thinking; at 29 years old, he signed a reported three-year deal worth in excess of £70.000 per week.

Slightly at odds, one must imagine, with what they have charged Damien Comolli with bringing to the table.

This January transfer window will be watched by all Reds fans with expectancy, hope and, after the arrivals of Poulsen and Konchesky, perhaps a certain amount of trepidation.

Henry made a seemingly throwaway comment at one point, but one I would repeat now as it is highly likely to prove true: "Most business seems to be done at the end of the month."

I warn all Reds fans now: Coupled with Henry and Werner's continued messages pleading patience, expect no fireworks in the first few days of next month.

There will be no late Christmas present of a £20 million striker arriving in time for the FA Cup match with Manchester United, of that I believe we can be certain.

It was also made mention of certain "PR signings", and though we can't be sure who that was referring to it is possible that Joe Cole and, again, Maxi Rodriguez were those in mind.

Big names might not be the order of the day in the next two transfer windows for Liverpool—which is fine, as long as big talent is.

Dalglish

King Kenny is never far from Liverpool supporters' collective thoughts. Whether dreaming of past glories or looking for a current saviour, Kenny Dalglish is always there or thereabouts.

One caller couldn't believe how he'd been overlooked for the job this time around—quite rightly pointed out by presenter Matt Critchley that this appointment wasn't made by Henry and Werner—while another merely asked if he would be given a more important role at the club.

John Henry did indeed give an interesting piece of feedback to this question, telling that he foresaw that Kenny should have a much more "substantial" role at the club.

While on the one hand, that is certainly a good move, as Dalglish should of course be doing more for Liverpool than opening club shops and having a kick around with the under 16's, it also offers an almost sure-fire answer that Dalglish will not be considered as a managerial candidate.

Dalglish is a perfect PR job for the owners of the club.

I say this not in a spiteful or derogatory way, or insinuating that they will use it to their advantage at all costs, but simply saying it like it is.

There is nothing that Kenny could do wrong in the eyes of the supporters and if he is given an important role at the club, sooner rather than later, then the owners will have shown him the dignity and importance to the club that he deserves.

Of course, that would then also mean that he already has an important role to do for the club, one that possibly nobody else could do, should the managerial situation become vacant.

Again, I mean this as no cynical view of the owners, who I thought came across very well and were certainly well received by almost every fan who thanked them for buying the club, but I am simply saying the truth.

The calls for Dalglish on the Kop will not make it easier for Hodgson, but if Henry and co. find a suitable role for him, it is one more plus point for them and one more obstacle removed for whoever is next to chose Hodgson's eventual successor.

And so, to Hodgson himself. The calls ranged from the pleading to the verging-on-angry, informing the owners (as if they hadn't already heard it) that he was out of his depth, not passionate enough and was not good enough to have been awarded the job in the first place.

One caller even approached them calling to their own nature with a statistics-based approach, citing Roy Hodgson's dreadful away record as a Premier League manager.

And to be fair, they answered in exactly the right terms.

Results this season have been unacceptable, they said. Well I think we can all agree there.

Neither Werner nor Henry outright ruled out getting rid of the manager, and nor did they say we're keeping him at all costs.

They said nothing more or less than the truth: That Hodgson only arrived at the club shortly before they did, that Liverpool's poor away form stretches back into last season and that they expected results to improve.

I'm sure that no fan expected John W. Henry (at least I hope they didn't) to suddenly announce, "You know what, you're right. Roy, you're fired!" live on camera. The idea behind it was to get the message across of how disappointed Reds are with Roy's actions, words and tactics.

One caller wanted John Aldridge to take over as boss, because he was so passionate about the Reds that the players would respond to him.

While I don't believe for one moment—with all due respect, Aldo!—that this would be the answer, the basis of the argument is sound in principle.

Hodgson, whether slumped in his chair or pulling at his face, does not cut an inspirational figure.

There is no way that Hodgson will be dismissed now before the January transfer window. All Reds will now be aware of this.

The risk of destabilising further an already embarrassingly-bad season, in which the Reds currently lie level on points with all three promoted teams from the Championship, likely outweighs the potential ground we could make up if a new boss came in and hit the ground running.

At the same time, giving the team and staff until the end of the season gives Henry and Werner a chance to familiarise themselves further with the club and the competition, with the expectations of the fans and the achievements of the past, and, perhaps most importantly of all, the time to bring in their own man to oversee the entire day-to-day running of the football club—including probably the decisions of hiring and firing managers.

While Henry admitted the search for a CEO for the club was ongoing, Werner passed up the chance entirely to comment on the matter.

From this we can presume that talks are indeed taking place with one or more candidates and no upsetting the table could be risked.

It is highly unlikely that the new owners would make any move regarding the managerial situation without someone advising them; after all, who would newcomers to the sport know to choose right now to replace Hodgson?

And bringing in someone with a football background will give them the credibility and breathing space they need to arrange their own man as and when they need to.

Just as long as it's not Sam Allardyce.

You can follow me on twitter: @karlmatchett