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EXCLUSIVE: RICK PARRY TALKS TO .TV
Chief Executive Rick Parry gives an in-depth interview to Liverpoolfc.tv in which he answers fans' questions about the new stadium latest, the search for investment, Rafa's future, playing on the Hillsborough anniversary and much, much more...
Question by Paul Symons: Is there a deadline date at which a decision has to be made, either yes or no, on the building of a new stadium?
Rick Parry: There's no fixed date. It is pressing and it is something we've wanted to get on with for a number of years, particularly since we've had planning permission. Having said that, we've been here for nearly a hundred years and survived. It's such a big decision and it's absolutely critical that we get it right.
Jessica Taylor: Are you still hopeful we will build a new stadium?
Yes, we are hopeful and we're still convinced that it makes sense in terms of taking the club to the next level and in generating more revenues to help us improve the team still further. It is something we are still committed to.
Paul Norman: What contingency plans have been made if, due to spiralling costs, the new stadium becomes unaffordable?
To be honest that's not something we're commenting on yet. We're focusing efforts on making sure it is doable. Clearly there are alternatives but at the moment the focus is on getting this one right.
Chris Keens: At the recent AGM Steve Morgan raised concerns over the club's finances and stressed that he believed the club's actual debt was nearer £70 million. Considering we spread transfer fees over five years in some cases, is he technically correct in his assessment?
Yes, he is technically correct, but what was overlooked was that we have a corresponding asset on the balance sheet as well. When you use credit to buy players you're obviously offsetting the debt with the value of the players you're putting on the balance sheet. If we're spreading payments over a number of years then we still owe the money but it only gives part of the story.
Paul Norman: We are continually being told that you are seeking new investmentinto the club, but two years down the line there appears to be no movement. Do you think you or the club have failed in any way?
No, not yet. It's been frustrating for us and we make no secrets about that. We'd like to have got it done sooner but when you're Liverpool then you have to be incredibly careful that you get it right. It's not about selling the family silver and walking away. At the end of the day we're all trustees really and making sure the club's future is in safe hands is of paramount importance. Along the way we have picked up the Champions League so it hasn't been a wasted couple of years.
Greg Callaghan: If the right investor appeared on the scene and he clearly ticked all the boxes you're looking for, would you recommend their proposal to the football club's board even if it meant that you would no longer have a role at Liverpool FC?
Yes, absolutely. I can say hand on heart that in discussions with a number of investors I have made it clear that my position now and in the future is not the issue. It's doing what's right for Liverpool which is the issue.
Johnny Wood: Chelsea have received a lot of bad press for supposedly 'buying success' since Roman Abramovic took over the club. If a similar individual with similar wealth offered to buy Liverpool, would you consider this a good thing?
You do need to invest money to achieve success in football. It's always been the case but perhaps it's more marked now than ever before. We're passionate for success but I'm not sure that for Liverpool it is literally success at any price. I think that we have to be confident that whoever takes Liverpool forward has the right motives, but at the end of the day the right motives are securing success on the pitch and continuing to win trophies. That's what people want to see most of all.
Ray McDermott: If I won enough money on the lottery could I, in theory, become the Chairman?
It would have to be a big lottery win, but in theory anything is possible.
Sachin Dukhanti: Can you understand the frustrations of fans who see Manchester United being linked with a new £60m shirt deal with a gambling firm and Chelsea recently signing a lucrative deal with Samsung while Liverpool have to stick with Carlsberg because we can't attract another sponsor?
I don't think we only remained with Carlsberg because we were unable to attract another sponsor. We've been in a very successful partnership with Carlsberg for fourteen years now which has been good for us and good for them. There are perfectly sensible reasons for staying with them but at the same time, looking into the future, it's not necessarily a relationship that will be there forever. We continue to explore what else the market holds.
Darren Jones: How significant is the announcement that adidas will be the club's new kit sponsor and will the new deal be significantly more lucrative than the current Reebok agreement?
We're delighted to be with Adidas. We were with them for a good number of years across the eighties and early nineties and we're pleased to be with them again. In reality though, for the time being at least, all they are doing istaking over the existing Reebok deal. The money is identical for the next three years. There'll be no difference at all.
Afe Louis: Do you have any plans to target the African market as it is a continent that is fast becoming a producer of world class footballers?
We target every market where there are top players. For us, it's a case of getting the very best players for Liverpool irrespective of where they come from.
Andrew Brett: Excluding Istanbul, what is the best match you have been to as a Liverpool fan?
It's very difficult to exclude Istanbul. Possibly the UEFA Cup final in Dortmund in 2001. We do seem to specialise in doing things the hard way in European finals. Another game that sticks in my mind maybe most of all was our win over Birmingham during our first visit to Cardiff. It was my first trophy since I came to the club so it will always be special for that reason.
There were also the Chelsea and Juventus home games last season, the match against Roma when Gerard Houllier came back as well. Fortunately we're still involved in a lot of tremendous occasions.
Simon Turner: What was the greatest turnaround in events - coming back from 3-nil down in Istanbul or persuading Steven Gerrard to stay at the club just 12 hours after he admitted that he had to leave?
That's a difficult one to answer. Maybe because I had more of an input then I would say keeping Steven. I was helplessly passive in Istanbul but at least I had some involvement in the other one.
John Devlin: I personally think that you have been one of the best signings Liverpool have made. Does it make a change to receive some praise for once?
It does make a change, a nice change as well, so thank you for that.
Jason Reynolds: When, if ever, will Liverpool Football Club revert to our old club badge as 95% of the fans prefer the old club badge of just the "Liverbird" withthe LFC initials beneath?
We do use the old badge on certain items, but having given a commitment to the HFSG that the eternal flame will always appear we're not contemplating changing the existing crest.
Vijay Raghvani Many people have the impression we haven't really capitalised on our European cup success. What is your opinion on this? Have we exhausted all commercial benefits of the win?
I don't agree with that assertion. We've seen benefits on a number of fronts. For us, though, it's not about one-offs and capitalising, it's about sustained success and building blocks. That's of much more relevance from our point of view. The quest for trophies and raising our level permanently is of much more importance.
Sarah Parker: Do you feel in a no-win situation when on the one hand fans criticise the club for not being aggressive enough commercially and on the other hand fans moan that they are being exploited by the club?
Yes. That's always something that you have to wrestle with as you try to get the balance right. The way we like to approach it at Liverpool is to try to remember what the values of the club are and what the values of our supporters are but at the same time recognising that if we're to compete on the pitch then we have to be successful off it. You're always treading a fine line and to an extent you get criticised whatever you do but what we're always trying to do is find where that balance is and try to steer a middle course. If we get equally criticised by both then maybe we're getting it right.
Liz Carter: Is there a policy of making more tickets available to out-of-towners and foreign supporters than local fans because the club know they will undoubtedly come and spend more money in the club shop and museum?
No, categorically not. No. |
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