With Liverpool not involved in the newly-formatted
Champions League competition next season until, at the earliest, a
play-off round scheduled for August 18 or 19 and August 25 or 26 -
rather than the current format of a third qualifying round -they
will be able to fit in a lucrative trip to the Far East where they
have millions of fans.
Liverpool, currently third in the Barclays Premier League, could
well benefit from the new UEFA rule that allows the first three
clubs in the Premier League to go straight into the group stages,
as opposed to the current top two. The fourth finishing club will
compete in the play-off stage.
SINGAPORE Liverpool fans in the region should get their
jerseys and scarves ready. The Reds are planning to play a friendly
match in Singapore, Bangkok and Hong Kong. The Football Association
of Singapore said it is in talks with the English side, but no date
has been fixed yet.
Reports suggest that Liverpool has a good fan base here in Asia,
but when it comes to touring Asia, they have not been as active as
their rivals, Manchester United and Chelsea.
Manchester United will return to Asia for the fifth time in a
decade this July, while Chelsea will take part in the Barclays Asia
Trophy in the same month.
Liverpool said it can "do much better" when it comes to building a
business overseas.
On the decision to tour in the Far East, Ayre said: "If you are
going to build a business overseas a key part is to allow people to
touch and feel the product on a regular basis.
"What is clear is that there is an opportunity for Liverpool to
do much better(financially) than they had in the past."
Asked about his possible elevation to chief executive, Ayre was
non-committal. He said: "At this stage I am just committed to
driving forward the commercial operations of this football
club."
Prior to joining Liverpool, Ayre had been chief executive of
Total Sports Asia, who advised companies on sports and
entertainment campaigns in Asia.
Prior to that he was managing director of Virgin/NTL subsidiary
Premium TV having joined from Huddersfield Town where he had been
chief executive and chairman for three years.
The Far East tour has been set for July 17 to 26, and will
involve matches in Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok.
