Tom Werner: Liverpool is not for sale - we've made a commitment to Klopp
John W Henry (R) and Tom Werner, owners of Liverpool FC watch a training session at Melwood (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Chairman Tom Werner insists Fenway Sports Group remain fully committed to restoringLiverpool to former glory as he declared: “This club is not for sale.”
In a wide ranging exclusive interview with the ECHO, Werner addressed the recent speculation about takeover bids from Chinese investment groups.
Werner says the American owners have no intention of selling the club they bought some six years ago. Jurgen Klopp penned a new six-year contract last month and FSG made a promise to the manager that their commitment was equally unwavering.
With Klopp at the helm, Werner believes the German coach will usher in a new era of success for Liverpool and FSG intend to stick around for the ride.
“We’ve said it before and I’d like to say it again: this club is not for sale,” Werner told the ECHO.
“I’d say that from time to time somebody says they have made an offer to us but they are really saying that just for publicity.
“People throw offers to us which we don’t think are real. We haven’t had a discussion or a negotiation with anyone because this club is not for sale.
“If someone wants to write us a letter saying they want to buy the club then it will get put in the garbage.
“I don’t think that we could have made a long-term arrangement with Jurgen without an understanding on both sides about our future together.”
FSG may sell minority stake
Werner confirmed that FSG remain open to the idea of selling a minority stake in the club in return for the right investment but there’s currently no such offer on the table.
“At the same time we’ve been clear that we actively pursue commercial opportunities which in turn helps us invest in the squad and win football matches,” he said.
“These commercial discussions can be complex and we’ve said in the past, under the right conditions and absolutely with the right partner, we could look at some small investment stake in the club.
“But only in the framework of doing what would be in the club’s long-term best interests. I want to reiterate that the club is not for sale.”
Werner excited about new season under Klopp
After the near misses of 2015/16 when Liverpool lost in both the Capital One Cup and Europa League finals, Werner is convinced the club is well placed to kick on this season. Last weekend’s thrilling 4-3 victory at Arsenal served to whet the appetite.
FSG had long since admired Klopp prior to his appointment last October and over the past 10 months that belief in him has strengthened as he’s set about transforming the club’s fortunes.
“There were some great moments last season,” Werner said. “We were in Basel – talk about a tale of two halves.
“It was a season in which in retrospect the most important decision we made was recruiting Jurgen to come to Liverpool. We are absolutely convinced that decision will pay dividends and we will win a lot of trophies going forward.
“Last season was probably a bit of a transition for Jurgen but the overall impression I had was we enjoyed some wonderful moments. The match against Dortmund at home was thrilling. We are very confident that Jurgen and his staff will lead us to many successes going forward.
“It was a very exciting start to the season against Arsenal. Everyone would agree we looked somewhat sluggish in that first half. But to play such magnificent attacking football in the second half was terrific. We’re looking forward to seeing what this season holds.”
Asked what was realistic for Liverpool to achieve in 2016/17, Werner said: “I don’t think it’s helpful to set any targets publicly.
“We are all in agreement, it’s about development and improvement. We all want to win as much as we can and believe we are in a good place. We are confident that there’s no ceiling on what we can hope to achieve. We’re all very ambitious.
“There’s no question that the Premier League has become more competitive. In many ways this league is more exciting than even the Champions League. On any given weekend you can no longer count on a victory. Every team has improved.
“What happened last season was thrilling for everyone. Of course we wish we had won the league but the fact that Leicester City were so exceptional was a terrific thing for the sport.
“We now have the best coaches in the world in the Premier League and that’s great for both players and supporters. It gives us another incentive to be successful.”
Klopp new deal a 'significant moment'
It’s been a busy summer at Anfield but getting Klopp to pen a new deal to stay at Anfield until at least 2022 was arguably the most important signing of the lot. The former Borussia Dortmund boss has energised both the dressing room and the fanbase.
“From our point of view it was a very significant moment,” Werner said,
“We wanted to really put any sort of question about managers to rest.
“We felt from the very beginning that he was a world class manager and that he was the ideal manager for this club. It made perfect sense to us. We’re delighted that he has the same commitment and enthusiasm going forward as we have.
“In every way we’ve seen how strong a leader he is. The players have absolutely responded to his leadership. The supporters feel very comfortable with Jurgen.
“He made a decision too. He’s extremely committed to Liverpool. He’s absolutely the right manager for this club.
“He understands the global fanbase, he understands the history of it and he’s extremely proud and passionate about the club. I think he’s given a real sense of strength and identity to the club as it goes forward.”
FSG looking for Main Stand naming rights deal
James Maloney
Liverpool's Anfield Stadium is nearing completion, as construction work continues on the new Main Stand
Promise on the field is accompanied by progress off it as Anfield’s impressive new Main Stand nears completion.
Werner and fellow FSG senior executives John W Henry and Mike Gordon will all fly to Merseyside next month for Liverpool’s first home game of the season against Leicester City on September 10.
A naming rights deal for the Main Stand remains some way off. “We’ve had a lot of interest in it but there’s nothing at the moment, just conversations,” Werner said.
The stadium was a burning issue which FSG inherited when they bought the club in October 2010 and they have resolved it with 8,500 extra seats bolstering Anfield’s capacity to around 54,000. It will generate around £25million extra per season.
“We will all be over there for the first match,” Werner added.
“I am extremely proud of what’s been achieved. When we first came in there was a lot of uncertainty over whether to remain at Anfield or not.
“It was always going to be about doing what was in the best interests of the club. We listened to our supporters, we listened to our partners, we listened to the official supporters committee.
“There were a lot of missteps before we came in. There was a lot of scepticism when we talked about our plan we intended to execute.
“I couldn’t be more delighted. The people who have seen it talk about what a real improvement it is. It will obviously give us more revenue to put into other portions of the club. We have solved a problem which was a real challenge for the club.
“I’m sure there will be a bump or two in the beginning. We need to make sure the increased capacity works well for everybody but I think it’s a big step forward for the club.”
- 18:49, 19 AUG 2016
- UPDATED 20:08, 19 AUG 2016
- BY JAMES PEARCE
John W Henry (R) and Tom Werner, owners of Liverpool FC watch a training session at Melwood (Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Chairman Tom Werner insists Fenway Sports Group remain fully committed to restoringLiverpool to former glory as he declared: “This club is not for sale.”
In a wide ranging exclusive interview with the ECHO, Werner addressed the recent speculation about takeover bids from Chinese investment groups.
Werner says the American owners have no intention of selling the club they bought some six years ago. Jurgen Klopp penned a new six-year contract last month and FSG made a promise to the manager that their commitment was equally unwavering.
With Klopp at the helm, Werner believes the German coach will usher in a new era of success for Liverpool and FSG intend to stick around for the ride.
“We’ve said it before and I’d like to say it again: this club is not for sale,” Werner told the ECHO.
“I’d say that from time to time somebody says they have made an offer to us but they are really saying that just for publicity.
“People throw offers to us which we don’t think are real. We haven’t had a discussion or a negotiation with anyone because this club is not for sale.
“If someone wants to write us a letter saying they want to buy the club then it will get put in the garbage.
“I don’t think that we could have made a long-term arrangement with Jurgen without an understanding on both sides about our future together.”
FSG may sell minority stake
Werner confirmed that FSG remain open to the idea of selling a minority stake in the club in return for the right investment but there’s currently no such offer on the table.
“At the same time we’ve been clear that we actively pursue commercial opportunities which in turn helps us invest in the squad and win football matches,” he said.
“These commercial discussions can be complex and we’ve said in the past, under the right conditions and absolutely with the right partner, we could look at some small investment stake in the club.
“But only in the framework of doing what would be in the club’s long-term best interests. I want to reiterate that the club is not for sale.”
Werner excited about new season under Klopp
After the near misses of 2015/16 when Liverpool lost in both the Capital One Cup and Europa League finals, Werner is convinced the club is well placed to kick on this season. Last weekend’s thrilling 4-3 victory at Arsenal served to whet the appetite.
FSG had long since admired Klopp prior to his appointment last October and over the past 10 months that belief in him has strengthened as he’s set about transforming the club’s fortunes.
“There were some great moments last season,” Werner said. “We were in Basel – talk about a tale of two halves.
“It was a season in which in retrospect the most important decision we made was recruiting Jurgen to come to Liverpool. We are absolutely convinced that decision will pay dividends and we will win a lot of trophies going forward.
“Last season was probably a bit of a transition for Jurgen but the overall impression I had was we enjoyed some wonderful moments. The match against Dortmund at home was thrilling. We are very confident that Jurgen and his staff will lead us to many successes going forward.
“It was a very exciting start to the season against Arsenal. Everyone would agree we looked somewhat sluggish in that first half. But to play such magnificent attacking football in the second half was terrific. We’re looking forward to seeing what this season holds.”
Asked what was realistic for Liverpool to achieve in 2016/17, Werner said: “I don’t think it’s helpful to set any targets publicly.
“We are all in agreement, it’s about development and improvement. We all want to win as much as we can and believe we are in a good place. We are confident that there’s no ceiling on what we can hope to achieve. We’re all very ambitious.
“There’s no question that the Premier League has become more competitive. In many ways this league is more exciting than even the Champions League. On any given weekend you can no longer count on a victory. Every team has improved.
“What happened last season was thrilling for everyone. Of course we wish we had won the league but the fact that Leicester City were so exceptional was a terrific thing for the sport.
“We now have the best coaches in the world in the Premier League and that’s great for both players and supporters. It gives us another incentive to be successful.”
Klopp new deal a 'significant moment'
It’s been a busy summer at Anfield but getting Klopp to pen a new deal to stay at Anfield until at least 2022 was arguably the most important signing of the lot. The former Borussia Dortmund boss has energised both the dressing room and the fanbase.
“From our point of view it was a very significant moment,” Werner said,
“We wanted to really put any sort of question about managers to rest.
“We felt from the very beginning that he was a world class manager and that he was the ideal manager for this club. It made perfect sense to us. We’re delighted that he has the same commitment and enthusiasm going forward as we have.
“In every way we’ve seen how strong a leader he is. The players have absolutely responded to his leadership. The supporters feel very comfortable with Jurgen.
“He made a decision too. He’s extremely committed to Liverpool. He’s absolutely the right manager for this club.
“He understands the global fanbase, he understands the history of it and he’s extremely proud and passionate about the club. I think he’s given a real sense of strength and identity to the club as it goes forward.”
FSG looking for Main Stand naming rights deal
James Maloney
Liverpool's Anfield Stadium is nearing completion, as construction work continues on the new Main Stand
Promise on the field is accompanied by progress off it as Anfield’s impressive new Main Stand nears completion.
Werner and fellow FSG senior executives John W Henry and Mike Gordon will all fly to Merseyside next month for Liverpool’s first home game of the season against Leicester City on September 10.
A naming rights deal for the Main Stand remains some way off. “We’ve had a lot of interest in it but there’s nothing at the moment, just conversations,” Werner said.
The stadium was a burning issue which FSG inherited when they bought the club in October 2010 and they have resolved it with 8,500 extra seats bolstering Anfield’s capacity to around 54,000. It will generate around £25million extra per season.
“We will all be over there for the first match,” Werner added.
“I am extremely proud of what’s been achieved. When we first came in there was a lot of uncertainty over whether to remain at Anfield or not.
“It was always going to be about doing what was in the best interests of the club. We listened to our supporters, we listened to our partners, we listened to the official supporters committee.
“There were a lot of missteps before we came in. There was a lot of scepticism when we talked about our plan we intended to execute.
“I couldn’t be more delighted. The people who have seen it talk about what a real improvement it is. It will obviously give us more revenue to put into other portions of the club. We have solved a problem which was a real challenge for the club.
“I’m sure there will be a bump or two in the beginning. We need to make sure the increased capacity works well for everybody but I think it’s a big step forward for the club.”
