Gillett reveals death threat calls

LIVERPOOL'S CO-OWNER George Gillett has revealed the extraordinary levels of conflict within the club's hierarchy by admitting that death threats against his family prevented him from allowing Tom Hicks to take majority control at Anfield.

The Liverpool co-chairman had remained silent during the American owners' recent refinancing of the club and his attempts to sell his 50 per cent stake to Dubai International Capital that was vetoed by Hicks two weeks' ago. But yesterday, in an interview with Canadian radio station Fan590, Gillett finally laid bare his frustrations with Hicks and the stalemate that continues to exist over Liverpool's future.

Gillett admits he gave his co-owner the opportunity to become majority shareholder at Anfield, an option Hicks insists he is continuing to explore, only for a deal for one per cent of his stake to become untenable due to threats received from supporters opposed to their regime.

The sports tycoon blames Hicks for numerous PR gaffes, notably the admission Jürgen Klinsmann had been approached about Rafael Benitez's job, and that he may now attempt to purchase the Texan's 50 per cent share. Hicks, who now enjoys a cordial relationship with Benitez, has said the approach to Klinsmann was Gillett's idea.

"We've gotten as many as 2,000 emails a week here and I would say that 95 per cent of them have been directed at some of the comments made by my partner and five per cent aimed at both of us, saying 'go home Americans'," revealed Gillett, who insists he has received "none of the hostility or animosity that seems to have been directed at others within the ownership group".

He continued: "The thing that angers them the most is the prospect that I might sell even one share of stock to my partner. They don't want him to have controlling interest of this club. They don't want him to have any ownership of the club, based on what they're saying and sending to me.

"So as a result of that it has been a difficult time for my wife, based on the amount that I travel, because we've received calls in the middle of the night, threatening our lives, death threats. I would come to the office and they (the threats) would come to the office and Foster and Lauren, my son and daughter-in-law, have received a number of them as well.

"We're very private people but my phone number is in the phone book and I'm not shy and if I make a mistake then I'm prepared to take the hit for that. But private numbers and mobile phone numbers are apparently on some blog sites and we've received some calls.

"And again it's interesting that calls aren't against my wife and my son and my daughter-in-law as much as they're against us selling to our partner. So we're rethinking that. Frankly, I don't think it's fair for me to put my family in that kind of danger and, instead of thinking about selling, I don't know, maybe we will think about buying."

Meanwhile, Javier Mascherano has written to the referee Steve Bennett to apologise for the persistent dissent that saw him sent off against Manchester United last Sunday.

The Liverpool midfielder, whose dismissal after running 20 yards to harangue Bennett was the low point of a petulant display, has been fined €25,000 by the club. Mascherano faces a FA charge and has asked for a personal hearing, at which he could have his one-match ban increased to three.

"The player wants to show he has apologised," said Benitez, who will be without Mascherano against Everton tomorrow. "He accepts he lost control after the sending-off and has said sorry to the referee. I have also talked with him now and told him he would be fined by the club, and he has accepted that and wants the money donated to charity."