 they were more belligerent with 'not for sale' messaging. To understand the FSG ethos it is always informative to go back to what Henry said upon collecting the keys to the Shankly Gates. "I don't have 'Sheikh' in front of my name. "People now think that Boston [Red Sox] is on a par economically with the New York Yankees, which is just not true. We have gone toe-to-toe with the Yankees, even though they have got a much higher revenue. When we looked at Liverpool the first thing that struck us was that there are opportunities here to really build a winner because the revenue potential around the world makes this a global football club.' Liverpool have rebuilt incrementally, first by expanding commercial activities and collecting the rising broadcast money, then matchday revenues with the new Main Stand and soon-to-be-complete Anfield Road End. Jurgen Klopp has been the most prolific fund-raiser of all, especially in leading the side to three Champions League finals and all those UEFA cheques. Success has enabled FSG to maintain self-sufficiency, increased cash flow subsidising wage increases and assisting recruitment. Yet in the world of Manchester City, and perhaps Newcastle United in the future, it is still not enough. Even billionaire organisations will occasionally sound like Oliver begging for more gruel. That's why FSG were led to the ill-advised Super League proposals in 2021, and why they sold a 10 per cent share of their whole company to RedBird Capital soon after.){kind=link}
In the world of Manchester City, even billionaire organisations will occasionally sound like Oliver begging for more gruel
With poetic choreography, Manchester City released their annual accounts minutes before it emerged that Fenway Sports Group are hoping to put a price on the sale of Liverpool.
City, top of the Deloitte Money League as well as multiple Premier League Champions, announced club record revenues of £613 million, with commercial revenues increasing in 2021-22 from £271.7m to £309.5m.
Given that, the statement delivered by FSG confirming the club will ‘consider new shareholders’ is perhaps most accurately read in the form of one prolonged sigh. The most mischievous minds could connect the events as a Liverpool concession more than a coincidence.
“Fair enough, Sheikh. You win. Have it all,” John W. Henry might be telling the football world by inviting Kop bids.