Former chief executive Rick Parry believes that Liverpool supporters’ desire to compete with Manchester City leads them to criticise FSG.
Under the current owners, Liverpool won their first ever Premier League title and a Champions League trophy, and Jurgen Klopp looks set to build another dangerous side after a summer that saw the midfield overhauled.
However, FSG have sometimes been criticised by fans who want greater ambition in the transfer market, especially given City’s large financial advantage in recent years.
Speaking to William Hill, the former Liverpool chief explained the situation.
The former Liverpool chief executive also spoke on the current owners, Fenway Sports Group, who have been subject to criticism from Reds fans in recent years – but Parry was full of praise for the American ownership group.
“I think Liverpool have done brilliantly under FSG and Jurgen Klopp,” said Parry. “The Champions League win was terrific and I think the owners have achieved success with a sustainable model. They don’t want to lose money but they’re not in it to make money, they are in it to build long-term value. They are in it to win and I think they are really good owners.
“The fans give FSG stick because they want to be competing with Manchester City and the clubs owned by sovereign states, but the owners have had the patience and the courage to say that if it is going to have to take longer, that is just the way it will have to be.
“The fact that they were not Hicks and Gillett gave them a lot of credit in the bank with the fans and they were a lot more patient with them. The fanbase were used to Liverpool winning titles so there was always an expectation, but it had become so long that a lot of newer Liverpool fans had never seen them win a title, so they didn’t have quite as much pressure.”