Fan group ups Reds protest
Liverpool fans group Spirit of Shankly have taken their opposition
to American owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks on to the streets
of the city with a billboard campaign.
Several huge posters have sprung up on major routes into
Liverpool with the message 'Tom and George, Debt, Lies, Cowboys.
Not welcome here.'
It is the latest venture in the group's campaign to pressure
Gillett and Hicks into ending their tumultuous reign which has been
plagued by financial constraints and a failure to start work on a
promised new 60,000-capacity stadium in Stanley Park.
"We, as fans, are unhappy with Gillett and Hicks and this is
part of the campaign to show they are not welcome," said Spirit of
Shankly spokesman Jay McKenna.
"Previously the protests were limited to match days but we
are doing everything we can and decided to expand it to other
areas.
"There are finances available to us and we feel this is
worthwhile."
McKenna, however, dismissed any possibility of SOS linking up
with Manchester United counterparts - who are also unhappy at the
level of debt the American Glazer family have brought to their club
- in a joint protest at the Barclays Premier League match between
the two at Old Trafford on March 21.
"It is a complete non-starter," he added.
"The idea that Liverpool and Manchester United fans will walk
down the same road together is never going to happen."