Gillett reveals collapse

8:57am Saturday 29th March 2008

GEORGE Gillett last night revealed his relationship with fellow Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks "has been unworkable for some time''. Gillett also said he and his wife have been subjected to death threats.

The Canadian-born Gillett and American business partner Tom Hicks are unpopular with some Reds fans after their disagreements with manager Rafael Benitez and their controversial re-financing of the club.

Dubai International Capital recently failed with a bid to buy a 49 per cent stake in the club, which would have seen Hicks retaining a controlling interest.

Gillett said: This partnership has been unworkable for some time.'' He also said he and his wife receive many phone calls in the middle of the night threatening our lives''.

Gillett revealed he has received abuse which he believes has been brought about by Hicks' comments in the media.

We get as many as 2,000 emails a week,'' he said.

Ninety five per cent of them have been directed at some of the comments made by my partner.

And five per cent aimed at both of us - 'Go Home Americans!' The thing that angers fans the most is the prospect I might sell even one share of my stock to my partner. They do not want him to have any controlling interest in this club - they do not even want him to have any ownership in the club.

As a result of that - and it's been very difficult for my wife with the amount that I travel - we receive many phone calls in the middle of the night threatening our lives, death threats.

A number came to the office and my son Foster and daughterin- law Lauren have received them. It's interesting the calls are not against my wife or myself or my son or my daughterin- law, as much as they are against us selling to our partner.

So we are rethinking that.

Frankly, I don't think it's fair for me to put my family in that kind of danger. So instead of thinking about selling, I might think about buying.''

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