Anfield owners sorry for botched dealings

Liverpool owner John W. Henry has written an open letter to the club’s fans apologising for their lack of success in the transfer market.

Brendan Rodgers admitted after Liverpool’s 2-0 loss to Arsenal he would not have sanctioned Andy Carroll’s departure on loan to West Ham United had he known attempts to bring in a replacement would prove unsuccessful.

Liverpool had been heavily linked with attacking midfielder Clint Dempsey, who ultimately joined Tottenham Hotspur from Fulham on transfer deadline day.

“I am as disappointed as anyone connected with Liverpool football club that we were unable to add further to our strike force in this summer transfer window, but that was not through any lack of desire or effort on the part of all of those involved,” Henry said in the letter.

“They pushed hard in the final days of the transfer window on a number of forward targets and it is unfortunate that on this occasion we were unable to conclude acceptable deals to bring those targets in.

“No one should doubt our commitment to the club. This is a work in progress.

“It will take time for Brendan (Rodgers) to instil his philosophy into the squad and build exactly what he needs for the long term.”

Henry blamed the failure of previous owners for the position the club finds itself in, but also acknowledged the present administration must bear some responsibility.

“We are still in the process of reversing the errors of previous regimes,” he said.

“It will not happen overnight. It has been compounded by our own mistakes in a difficult first two years of ownership. It has been a harsh education, but make no mistake, the club is healthier today than when we took over.

“We will never place this club in the precarious position that we found it in when we took over at Anfield. This club should never again run up debts that threaten its existence.

“We have only one driving ambition at Liverpool and that is the quest to win the Premier League playing the kind of football our supporters want to see.”