
Liverpool fans are planning to protest against
owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett ahead of Saturday's visit of
rivals Manchester United at Anfield.
The Spirit of Shankly group has organised a march from Lower
Breck Road from 11am up to the stadium.
The organisation says it wants to direct its anger "towards
those ruining our football club".
Plans for a new stadium were delayed last month amid reports
that the owners were struggling to raise funds. <!-- E SF
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The match could be an uncomfortable one for Gillett, who is
expected to take his place in the directors' box.
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 men took out to purchase the club
have had to be refinanced.
In addition, there has been continued speculation that Dubai
International Capital, who 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 planned protest coincides with the demonstration
expected at St James' Park, with Newcastle fans angry at the
ownership of Mike Ashley and the departure of manager Kevin
Keegan.