Spirit of Shankly

Tom Hicks and American businessmen George Gillett purchased Liverpool Football Club In 2007 through a leveraged takeover from previous owner David Moores.

However, mounting debts, waning on-pitch form, conflicts with manager Rafa Benitez, and a perceived reduction in transfer spending caused the popularity of Hicks' and Gillett's ownership to begin to fall in 2008.

As a result, a meeting was called in The Sandon, a pub in Liverpool, to discuss what fans could do about the situation, those in favour of protest formed the Spirit Of Shankly group.

[citation needed] Spirit Of Shankly - Liverpool Supporters' Union after formation set out aims as part of their constitution highlighting short, medium and long-term objectives for the organisation.

After learning that Tom Hicks Jr. was planning to attend the game,[3] the members remained in the stadium singing anti-owner songs after the end of the match.

A "Tom And George - Not Welcome Anywhere" Campaign was started on 29 June 2010 to show the depth of feeling from Spirit Of Shankly members and Liverpool supporters all around the world.

At that meeting new Liverpool owner John Henry said to the members of the group present "You guys need to know that without the action and hard work of the Spirit of Shankly, Tom (Werner) and I would not have bought the Club".

On 18 June 2010, the Daily Mirror published an article urging fans to join Spirit Of Shankly in their fight against Hicks and Gillett.