It is five years since FSG took control of Liverpool FC and a good time to look at what's happened since. On 15 October 2010, ownership of our club was determined by the High Court in London and supporters could begin to put the nightmare of Tom Hicks and George Gillettâs tenure behind them and look forward to life with new custodians from Boston.
David Mooresâ decision to sell Liverpool, in 2007, was prompted by his belief only new owners and major investment could fund a much-needed new stadium in Stanley Park. Unfortunately, the sale to Hicks and Gillett eventually threatened the actual viability of the club and delivered nothing more than hugely expensive drawings and the fabled spade-in-the-ground-in-60-days promise.
Finally, after years of deliberation, it was decided LFC should remain at Anfield and FSG have embarked upon expansion of the existing stadium. Yet, questions remain.
The Main Stand development wonât come close to meeting season and general-admission ticket demand, although there is hope that an anticipated increase of the Anfield Road End will help some of those waiting to join a 25,000-strong season-ticket waiting list, currently closed to new applicants. Meanwhile, supporters have expressed fears that the completed expansion will make improvements to other stands, particularly the cramped Lower Centenary, impossible. The final capacity also does little to address the issue of an ageing matchday support and lack of access for younger fans â most poignantly those from the Liverpool area.
FSG introduced tiered ticket pricing three seasons before even one stand was appropriate for âstretch pricingâ. Spirit of Shankly have voiced concern that the introduction of higher priced tickets in certain areas of the ground has done nothing to alleviate the financial burden on fans. In addition to facing Category A prices at every away game, home supporters face an average ticket price of ÂŁ45.74 â 52% higher than the Premier League average of ÂŁ30. Even the cheapest tickets at Anfield, ÂŁ37.50, are 25% higher than the Premier League average. The clubâs none-too-impressive record of just one Champions League campaign under FSG was compounded by the club charging the highest ticket prices in the group stages. And it is still not possible for youngsters to buy an under-16 concessionary ticket unless a full-price adult ticket is bought at the same time. As a consequence, Spirit of Shankly has welcomed the formation of the Ticket Price Working Group and will continue to work with the club and other supporter representatives to deliver lower ticket prices.
Much is made of the relationship our new manager, JĂźrgen Klopp, had with supporters of his former club Borussia Dortmund, particularly those who make up the âYellow Wallâ on the Sudtribune. All Liverpool fans hope we can replicate this on the Kop at Anfield and bring back the atmosphere we once took for granted. However, it costs just âŹ16,70 to stand on the Sudtribune, and a maximum âŹ54,40 for a Category 1 halfway-line seat. There are âŹ10,90 concessions and seats at âŹ21,90 for under 18s. It is clear, Dortmundâs success was a result of more than Kloppâs technical prowess in the dugout.
Liverpool are, undoubtedly, in better financial shape than they have been for a long while. The Hicks-and-Gillett shaped hole in the clubâs accounts has been filled and commercial revenue is healthy and growing. The club live within their means and the threat of financial failure, or administration as faced in 2010, will not rear its head under FSG stewardship. Spirit of Shanklyâs concern is that FSGâs ownership model limits the clubâs potential to grow and regain its place at the top of the game. In fact, by retaining the benefit of the clubâs capital growth for their own purposes, such as providing a stake for Lebron James in order to facilitate a deal with Fenway Sports Management, FSG are also living within the clubâs means.
This approach precludes the release of equity, created by LFC growth and driven by LFC resources, to benefit the club itself. The value of the club sits on FSGâs balance sheet to provide leverage for their business, not to generate investment for Liverpool. This position was confirmed when a proposal to release equity to contribute towards the stadium redevelopment by way of a share issue to supporters â tabled by Spirit of Shankly at the LFC Supporters Committee â was rejected point blank.
So five years on, we have FSGâs third managerial appointment; more than ÂŁ402million spent on players, almost ÂŁ280million recouped on sales; and a solitary top-four position. The club are in a better place commercially, but supporters are paying more than ever and those from Liverpoolâs working-class neighbourhoods pay the worldâs highest ticket prices proportionate to household income.
FSG have benefitted from obtaining the club in what amounted to a fire sale; and continue to benefit from the growing value of the club on their balance sheet. Spirit of Shankly believe that we the supporters and the club should share this financial well-being, supporters through lower ticket prices, the club through equity to fund investment.
Let us all, the fans and the club, live within our means.
http://www.spiritofshankly.com/news/lfc-5-years-on-under-fsg