Hicks Brands Parry Reign a 'disaster'

The Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has described Rick Parry's time as chief executive as a "disaster" during which the club has failed to keep up with Europe's leading clubs such as Barcelona and Manchester United. But Hicks had warmer words for Rafael Benítez, congratulating the manager on the team's recent form and saying he would extend Benítez's contract if he could secure full ownership of the club.

"Look at what's happened under Rick. It has been a disaster," said Hicks, who last week wrote to Parry asking him to resign. "We have fallen so far behind the other leading clubs. We should have the stadium built by now. We have a few major sponsors when we should have 15.

"We have still got the top brand in the world of football but that's no good if you don't know how to commercialize it. Rick needs to resign from Liverpool FC. He has put his heart into it but it is time for a change. You have to be able to work with the manager and Rick has proved he can't do that."

Hicks said his buy-out of co-owner George Gillett was "going to happen" and warned that the stalemate over the club's future will continue until Gillett agrees to sell his stake. Speaking from Dallas, Hicks insisted that it was Gillett who befriended Jurgen Klinsmann and "out of the blue" set up last November's meeting in New York. Hicks confirmed attending the meeting, which seriously undermined the board's faith in Benítez midway through the season, but said Parry met alone with the former Germany national team coach for three hours before Hicks joined them.

In an attempt to win over Liverpool's fans, who are increasingly skeptical of the Americans' ownership of the club, Hicks said his top priority if Gillett sold to him would be to extend Benítez's contract - although not for a significantly long period. "If I was to buy George Gillett out, the first thing I'd do is offer Rafa a one-year extension. Hopefully we'd have success and extend it again.

"We communicate regularly. He's got the guys playing very well - Rafa has unique skills. We are playing pretty well and I give Rafa all credit for that."

Speaking from Dallas, the Texan appealed directly to fans, saying he understood their anger about the amount of debt placed on the club. "The fans feel like we let them down. [They] don't like the fact that we borrowed too much money on the club. I'm going to fix that." He revealed that he plans to rid the club of all debt by heading up a group of financial backers willing to invest.

Hicks' comments, which came in an interview with Sky Sports News, will again draw attention away from Liverpool's actions on the field - they face Fulham in the league on Saturday before a Champions League semi-final against Chelsea - in a season that has often been overshadowed by behind-the-scenes bickering at the club. Hicks was criticized for calling for Parry's resignation less than 48 hours after Benítez had guided his side past Arsenal and into the last four of the Champions League for the third time in his tenure. The boardroom disputes halted earlier this week for commemorations of the 19th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, and Hicks is thought to have given the interview on the condition it would be aired after the anniversary.