Hodgson Supports Fan Protests

Liverpool manager Roy
Hodgson said he "cannot
criticise" the fans who staged a
protest against the club's
owners after the 2-2 draw with
Sunderland.
"I don't think anybody at the club
wants anything but a solution to
the ownership problem," he said.
"The fans want to see the club
moving forward and not sort of
stuck with owners trying to sell
the club."
Around 10,000 fans remained in
Anfield after the match to urge
co-owners George Gillett and
Tom Hicks to sell.
The Royal Bank of Scotland,
which is owed £237.4m of the
club's £282m debts, is due to
make a decision on recalling its
loan in October.

The bank, which is 84% state-
owned, could opt to take control
of Kop Holdings, the company
used by Hick and Gillett to
purchase Liverpool in February
2007.
Managing director Christian
Purslow has stated his
determination to secure the
club's future by finding new
owners
, saying that he wants a sale
"more than anybody in the
world."
Purslow, along with chairman
Martin Broughton and
commercial director Ian Ayre,
form a majority on the board and
could approve a sale without the
American owners' agreement.
However, BBC business editor
Robert Peston has suggested the
club is likely to end up under
bank ownership at least
temporarily,
with suitors potentially saving up
to £320m if they buy from the
bank rather than the club's
current owners.
Hicks and Gillett, who took
control of the club in February
2007, are believed to want
£600m for the club, while a
figure of £420m would
effectively see them leave
without having made a profit.
However, if the club was to fall
into bank ownership it could be
available for about £280m, a
figure that includes £40m of
penalty fees.
Meanwhile, Hodgson is left trying
to turn round a club that finished
seventh in the Premier League
last season.
They have won only one of six
league matches this campaign
and were knocked out of the
Carling Cup at home by League
Two Northampton Town last
Wednesday.
Before the draw against
Sunderland Hodgson stated that
the protest would not help the
club's stability,
but has now suggested that the
issue has united the staff and
supporters on Merseyside.
"The fans here are very
passionate and care an awful lot
about this football club," he
added.
"You cannot criticise them for
showing their displeasure about
the situation."
Captain Steven Gerrard and Jamie
Carragher applauded the fans
who had remained in the ground
as they returned to the pitch to
warm down after the match.