In world football these days, Liverpool FC is something of an anomaly. Clubs like Chelsea, Manchester United, Real Madrid and the like have all seen their fan-bases increase massively since the turn of the millennium – as much as Liverpool’s – but those clubs are largely run as ‘franchises’. That word that, when uttered by Hicks and Gillet within moments of putting pen to paper back in 2007, struck a very off-key chord with Liverpool fans everywhere. The reason this club stands out amongst those others is that it has the small, local clubs sense of community and belonging – the club is ours, it is only on lease to whoever owns it at any given time. Having such a mentality, yet being perhaps the biggest club (purely in terms of support) on the planet makes Liverpool stand out like a sore thumb amongst other great clubs. No one can deny our fans passion and support; this club truly is a religion to many of us. When the club suffers, we suffer; when we lose to a rival, it’s like one of our limbs has been cut off. But at this point in the club’s history, at this very crucial moment, Liverpool’s vocal and hardcore supporters’ groups need to step back and let the courts decide our fate.
It was reported, earlier this week on icLiverpool and on a number of other websites that Liverpool fans are preparing to arrive in London en masse for the court case next week. Liverpool’s fans will pour down to the Capital in droves to lend their support, but why? There is nothing more our fans can do, we have pushed and pushed and finally, Hicks and Gillett are on the brink, either way. Arriving in hundreds, or thousands outside the building where our club’s fate will ultimately be decided can only do harm, as there is no influence anybody can now have on the outcome. This can only damage our club’s reputation more by giving the press a bigger stick to beat us with. In terms of the media, the local press needs to take a lot of responsibility for encouraging – almost egging on – the fans to take up the club banner and head down South.
The fact remains that all the necessary details are in place: Broughton and the board feel their case is strong, and provided we have a fair judge (and we have been given all the facts, truly) then things will no doubt go in our favour and this support will not be needed. Camping outside – to do what, more protesting? – will inevitably lead to trouble, as it will be disorganized groups and there will be no facilities or preparations in place to handle this. Our club’s reputation does not need to be damaged more, by heavy-handed policing causing trouble (see pretty much every other ‘peaceful protest’, or G4-esque event that has occurred in the world’s Capital cities) whilst attempting to disperse the crowds.
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