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An Epic Swindle: 44 Months with a Pair of Cowboys
AN EPIC SWINDLE is the inside story of how Liverpool FC came within hours of being re-possessed by the banks after the shambolic 44-month reign of American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett. It is the tale of a civil war that dragged Britain's most successful football club to its knees, through the High Court and almost into administration. Players Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher tell of their anger at the broken promises, as well as their pain at watching loyal fans in open revolt. Manager, chief executive, board members, leading fans and journalists reveal the turmoil at a revered sporting institution run by two men at war with each other, who trampled Liverpool's cherished traditions into the gutter. No story sums up the naked greed at the heart of modern football quite like Hicks' and Gillett's attempt to turn a buck at Liverpool. No-one has had as much access to the truth, or tells it with as much passion, wit and insight as Brian Reade. AN EPIC SWINDLE is the riveting story of how close one of the great football clubs came to financial implosion.
353 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 21, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
February 1, 2022
I thought I was reading a thriller when I embarked on Brian Reade's 'An Epic Swindle' - it certainly reads like one. There is drama at every turn and as events unfolded murder was definitely not off the agenda!
When American George Gillett came in as a prospective purchaser for Liverpool FC, he was not initially in the driving seat. Liverpool were pursuing an offer from another consortium and it looked as though that would be pushed through. But Gillett was not to give up, he sweet-talked his way into a more favourable position and when he realised that he did not quite have the money to oust the opposition, he brought in his then pal Tom Hicks to add more financial muscle.
The Liverpool people knew some of Gillett's background and knew he had sporting franchises back in the USA but they knew nothing of Hicks. And what is more - and as it turned out to their discredit - they did not do any homework. They simply took Gillett's word because they felt that he was 'a decent bloke'. Would you do that in a multi-million pound deal? Surely not? But they did and the charm offensive continued so much so that the other consortium were give a deadline to come up with the money or else. They took exception to this treatment and pulled out. This left Gillett and Hicks with a clear path to ownership.
Chairman John Moores and chief executive Rick Parry pushed the deal through and Liverpool FC were American owned. What a mistake this was but when asked later about whether they had made the wrong decision neither of those participants were prepared to admit that they had. They felt they were taking the best deal on the table and what else could they be expected to do.
Neither Hicks nor Gillett were football people, or soccer as they called it, and one amusing story coming out of what happened was manager Rafa Benitez' dealings with the Americans because whenever he asked about money for transfers he was told things like 'let's see what comes out of the draft'; heaven forbid it is not the NFL!! One feels sorry for RAfa in this tale because when everyone fell out, he was left on his own trying to manage a professional football club with little support around him. [I often wondered at the time why he suddenly left, now I know.]
But Hicks and Gillett stated that they were making the purchase as a family concern and that their only interest was making Liverpool FC successful and leaving a legacy for their children. But that ambition soon turned sour when they began their financial shenanigans. Initially they assured everyone that money would be ploughed back into the club but gradually the massive interest payments that they incurred in making the purchase, some £30 million per year, were leveraged (as they call it) back onto the club. This was when the real problems began to emerge. Benitez was obliged to wait for transfer money, not enough of it and too late to seal any really significant deals.
Fans began to smell a rat and while there was unrest at board level, there was far more unrest among the fans. A group called 'The Spirit of Shankley' (its appropriate acronym SOS) was formed and movement to oust the Americans began. And when the going got tough, Gillett and Hicks fell out, which made matters much worse. And the pair of them spoke absolute nonsense from their living rooms back in the USA.
Brian Reade has done magnificent research to uncover all the background (underhand) dealings that were going on and his intervention and actions helped immensely in saving Liverpool FC from bankruptcy - just! Boardroom infighting was rife, Gillett and Hicks, hated by the fans whose banners, not surprisingly read 'Yanks Out!', tried to smooth things over but it had gone too far and people were beginning to become aware of the duo's self-interest and how they were planning self-preservation. Fortunately they did not succeed.
In the end the Royal Bank of Scotland helped the issue by demanding their interest payments and their money back so it all ended up in the High Court - Gillett and Hicks not present but still arguing their corner despite all the evidence against them. And they duly lost and Liverpool were saved from financial implosion in the nick of time.
It is a most enthralling book - with occasional diversions into the football matches that were played and were significant - and demonstrates how professional football has become a money business these days. It is recommended for non-football fans, too, because all the financial dealings are absolutely fascinating - and mind-boggling - to behold!
When American George Gillett came in as a prospective purchaser for Liverpool FC, he was not initially in the driving seat. Liverpool were pursuing an offer from another consortium and it looked as though that would be pushed through. But Gillett was not to give up, he sweet-talked his way into a more favourable position and when he realised that he did not quite have the money to oust the opposition, he brought in his then pal Tom Hicks to add more financial muscle.
The Liverpool people knew some of Gillett's background and knew he had sporting franchises back in the USA but they knew nothing of Hicks. And what is more - and as it turned out to their discredit - they did not do any homework. They simply took Gillett's word because they felt that he was 'a decent bloke'. Would you do that in a multi-million pound deal? Surely not? But they did and the charm offensive continued so much so that the other consortium were give a deadline to come up with the money or else. They took exception to this treatment and pulled out. This left Gillett and Hicks with a clear path to ownership.
Chairman John Moores and chief executive Rick Parry pushed the deal through and Liverpool FC were American owned. What a mistake this was but when asked later about whether they had made the wrong decision neither of those participants were prepared to admit that they had. They felt they were taking the best deal on the table and what else could they be expected to do.
Neither Hicks nor Gillett were football people, or soccer as they called it, and one amusing story coming out of what happened was manager Rafa Benitez' dealings with the Americans because whenever he asked about money for transfers he was told things like 'let's see what comes out of the draft'; heaven forbid it is not the NFL!! One feels sorry for RAfa in this tale because when everyone fell out, he was left on his own trying to manage a professional football club with little support around him. [I often wondered at the time why he suddenly left, now I know.]
But Hicks and Gillett stated that they were making the purchase as a family concern and that their only interest was making Liverpool FC successful and leaving a legacy for their children. But that ambition soon turned sour when they began their financial shenanigans. Initially they assured everyone that money would be ploughed back into the club but gradually the massive interest payments that they incurred in making the purchase, some £30 million per year, were leveraged (as they call it) back onto the club. This was when the real problems began to emerge. Benitez was obliged to wait for transfer money, not enough of it and too late to seal any really significant deals.
Fans began to smell a rat and while there was unrest at board level, there was far more unrest among the fans. A group called 'The Spirit of Shankley' (its appropriate acronym SOS) was formed and movement to oust the Americans began. And when the going got tough, Gillett and Hicks fell out, which made matters much worse. And the pair of them spoke absolute nonsense from their living rooms back in the USA.
Brian Reade has done magnificent research to uncover all the background (underhand) dealings that were going on and his intervention and actions helped immensely in saving Liverpool FC from bankruptcy - just! Boardroom infighting was rife, Gillett and Hicks, hated by the fans whose banners, not surprisingly read 'Yanks Out!', tried to smooth things over but it had gone too far and people were beginning to become aware of the duo's self-interest and how they were planning self-preservation. Fortunately they did not succeed.
In the end the Royal Bank of Scotland helped the issue by demanding their interest payments and their money back so it all ended up in the High Court - Gillett and Hicks not present but still arguing their corner despite all the evidence against them. And they duly lost and Liverpool were saved from financial implosion in the nick of time.
It is a most enthralling book - with occasional diversions into the football matches that were played and were significant - and demonstrates how professional football has become a money business these days. It is recommended for non-football fans, too, because all the financial dealings are absolutely fascinating - and mind-boggling - to behold!
September 25, 2013
Don't waste your money or your time on this. It's written in a style that is the worst of modern British journalism. You could sum up the whole book as follows:
1. Hicks and Gillett were not very nice men;
2. They scammed Liverpool and each other;
3. The Liverpool Board and fans were gullible;
4. Steven Gerrard et al sat back and let it happen;
5. Hindsight is a wonderful gift.
There you go - £12.99 saved to spend on a book that may tell you something you don't already know!
1. Hicks and Gillett were not very nice men;
2. They scammed Liverpool and each other;
3. The Liverpool Board and fans were gullible;
4. Steven Gerrard et al sat back and let it happen;
5. Hindsight is a wonderful gift.
There you go - £12.99 saved to spend on a book that may tell you something you don't already know!
July 15, 2012
An Epic Swindle, or to give its full and unexpurgated title An Epic Swindle: 44 Months with a Pair of Cowboys is a book written by Daily Mirror columnist and lifelong Liverpool fan Brian Reade (the author of another superb book about LFC 44 Years with the Same Bird).
It tells the story that any Liverpool fan worth their salt are very much aware of about the 44 month tenure of Messer’s Hicks and Gillette and a lot more else besides. It delves into the business practices of both men and the kind of people that they were (i.e. totally amoral greedy bastards) and basically what a gigantic mess (and boy what a mess they ultimately made) they made of the club, and of plenty of other business ventures besides, some of them sports teams just like our beloved LFC.
It also tells the story of a how a small group of fans started a concern in the back rooms of a pub (which is easily the greatest triumph of the entire story) that bought these billionaires to account for their malpractices in their plan for the club, the lies they told, the promises that the failed to keep, all for the sake of making a quick buck for themselves and then bailing out when the club was at its most valuable, which was always their ultimate aim no matter how much they tried to deflect attention away from that.
If you ever wanted a blueprint for how not to run a football club and how to pull the heart and soul out of a team then this would be the perfect book for you as it would show you exactly how to go about doing such a thing, but it would not tell you how to do it and get away with it.
If you thought that you knew everything there was to know about the whole kit and caboodle then read this book and think again, because this is the real story and although it is totally biased towards the club (which is also one of its strengths and major selling points) and against the Yanks of the title, it is a fascinating read that really shows you how close the whole club came to being wound up at one point, and that is a really scary fact considering what has just happened to Glasgow Rangers.
Pick this book up and read it, I can assure you that you won’t regret it if you have any interest in Liverpool Football Club.
It tells the story that any Liverpool fan worth their salt are very much aware of about the 44 month tenure of Messer’s Hicks and Gillette and a lot more else besides. It delves into the business practices of both men and the kind of people that they were (i.e. totally amoral greedy bastards) and basically what a gigantic mess (and boy what a mess they ultimately made) they made of the club, and of plenty of other business ventures besides, some of them sports teams just like our beloved LFC.
It also tells the story of a how a small group of fans started a concern in the back rooms of a pub (which is easily the greatest triumph of the entire story) that bought these billionaires to account for their malpractices in their plan for the club, the lies they told, the promises that the failed to keep, all for the sake of making a quick buck for themselves and then bailing out when the club was at its most valuable, which was always their ultimate aim no matter how much they tried to deflect attention away from that.
If you ever wanted a blueprint for how not to run a football club and how to pull the heart and soul out of a team then this would be the perfect book for you as it would show you exactly how to go about doing such a thing, but it would not tell you how to do it and get away with it.
If you thought that you knew everything there was to know about the whole kit and caboodle then read this book and think again, because this is the real story and although it is totally biased towards the club (which is also one of its strengths and major selling points) and against the Yanks of the title, it is a fascinating read that really shows you how close the whole club came to being wound up at one point, and that is a really scary fact considering what has just happened to Glasgow Rangers.
Pick this book up and read it, I can assure you that you won’t regret it if you have any interest in Liverpool Football Club.
August 29, 2013
Just done with this. And add to it Parry coming out of his closet just today. If not for a few good things that fell into place, Liverpool football club would have been history. Can't help but be thankful to Rafa for being a dick towards them, and FSG.
Reade's passion is the same as what he showed in the other '44' book. And gives you a sort of Layman's explanation to how such huge businesses work and what will go wrong, and what did go wrong in this case.
Great read for a neutral. Terrible to go through it for a Liverpool supporter, if you know what I mean.
Reade's passion is the same as what he showed in the other '44' book. And gives you a sort of Layman's explanation to how such huge businesses work and what will go wrong, and what did go wrong in this case.
Great read for a neutral. Terrible to go through it for a Liverpool supporter, if you know what I mean.
September 23, 2012
An interesting story written by a local journalist. The plot is rather laboured and not enough weight is given to the US businessmen's point of view.
January 29, 2013
The information was fascinating, the writing was engaging but it just seemed like it tried to hard to be the voice of the lad next to you in the pub.
July 4, 2021
Reading this book almost twelve months since Liverpool's first title win since 1990 and following their Lazarus like recovery to this particular campaign - recovering from an unprescedented six home defeats on the spin to claim third place and Champions League qualification - it was both interesting and scarcely believable to reflect that not all that long ago, Liverpool's performances on the pitch took a back seat to the battles between management and ownership during the turbulent and ill-fated reign of George Gillett and Tom Hicks - The pair of Cowboys referenced in the book's title.
I chose to read this book around the time of the European Super League debacle in which Liverpool and five other English clubs stated their intentions to join a breakaway European Super League. Liverpool's current American owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG) were quite rightly castigated for their role in this process and John Henry was forced to make a squirm-inducing video apologising for his role in the process. It is not the first time that FSG have misread the temperature and mood of the Liverpool fanbase and it probably won't be the last mistake they make, but their reign does represent a form of heaven when compared with that of Gillett and Hicks, or Hicks and Gillett as they were always referred to in print - a fact reflective of the fact that it was the tall, Cowboy boot wearing Texan who was really calling the shots during the torrid 44 months, in which they owned England's most successful football club.
Reading the book now, it was amazing to reflect on how much has changed at Anfield. FSG have delivered the holy grail, a 19th League title, which followed on from a sixth European Cup success the prior season - this in itself acted as a very nice consolation for missing out on another title by one point to Manchester City and represented a form of redemption for Jürgen Klopp after he had lost three previous finals as Liverpool manager, since succeeding Brendan Rodgers as Reds boss in 2016. Alonsgide these successes (Liverpool added the Super Cup and World Club Cup to become the first English club to hold these prizes concurrently), FSG have redeveloped Anfield and restored the stadium and the club to an elite level. Whilst their tenure has not been without issues, it truly is light years away from that of Hicks and Gillett who basically bought the club using high interest loans, put in none of their own money and failed to deliver on promises to build a new stadium.
When Hicks and Gillett arrived at Anfield, they did so in a period of relative prosperity. Liverpool had just reached a second European Cup final in three seasons. Although they lost to Milan in a rerun of the Miracle of Istanbul of 2005, there should have been plenty of cause for optimism. Under the canny stewardship of Rafa Benitez (now freshly installed as gaffer across Stanley Park), Liverpool were a match for anyone in Europe. Barcelona, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Juventus, Milan and Real Madrid were all vanquished under Benitez and after a tricky first season, he had began to master the Premier League and the English game more generally, adding an FA Cup in 2006 to the fifth European Cup he had delivered twelve months earlier. As Read chronicles, the then Liverpool Chairman David Moores had accepted that he could not compete with Oligarchs and Sheikhs and instructed CEO Rick Parry to seek a new buyer. That they came to end up selling the family silver to Hicks and Gillett was a disaster, one which Read covers brilliantly with input from key participants within the club and the media.
The book provides a fascinating insight into a turbulent period in Liverpool's history and a fantastic reflection on how the power struggles between Benitez and the two owners played out. The Spaniard ultimately was perhaps the architect of his own downfall at Anfield, engaging in politicking continually, but under his management the fact that Liverpool remained competitive and went within a whisker of winning the League in 2009 is to his eternal credit - especially when you consider the backdrop of what he was working against. It also highlights the power of the fan-led protests through Spirit of Shankly and other groups. Highly recommended.
I chose to read this book around the time of the European Super League debacle in which Liverpool and five other English clubs stated their intentions to join a breakaway European Super League. Liverpool's current American owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG) were quite rightly castigated for their role in this process and John Henry was forced to make a squirm-inducing video apologising for his role in the process. It is not the first time that FSG have misread the temperature and mood of the Liverpool fanbase and it probably won't be the last mistake they make, but their reign does represent a form of heaven when compared with that of Gillett and Hicks, or Hicks and Gillett as they were always referred to in print - a fact reflective of the fact that it was the tall, Cowboy boot wearing Texan who was really calling the shots during the torrid 44 months, in which they owned England's most successful football club.
Reading the book now, it was amazing to reflect on how much has changed at Anfield. FSG have delivered the holy grail, a 19th League title, which followed on from a sixth European Cup success the prior season - this in itself acted as a very nice consolation for missing out on another title by one point to Manchester City and represented a form of redemption for Jürgen Klopp after he had lost three previous finals as Liverpool manager, since succeeding Brendan Rodgers as Reds boss in 2016. Alonsgide these successes (Liverpool added the Super Cup and World Club Cup to become the first English club to hold these prizes concurrently), FSG have redeveloped Anfield and restored the stadium and the club to an elite level. Whilst their tenure has not been without issues, it truly is light years away from that of Hicks and Gillett who basically bought the club using high interest loans, put in none of their own money and failed to deliver on promises to build a new stadium.
When Hicks and Gillett arrived at Anfield, they did so in a period of relative prosperity. Liverpool had just reached a second European Cup final in three seasons. Although they lost to Milan in a rerun of the Miracle of Istanbul of 2005, there should have been plenty of cause for optimism. Under the canny stewardship of Rafa Benitez (now freshly installed as gaffer across Stanley Park), Liverpool were a match for anyone in Europe. Barcelona, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Juventus, Milan and Real Madrid were all vanquished under Benitez and after a tricky first season, he had began to master the Premier League and the English game more generally, adding an FA Cup in 2006 to the fifth European Cup he had delivered twelve months earlier. As Read chronicles, the then Liverpool Chairman David Moores had accepted that he could not compete with Oligarchs and Sheikhs and instructed CEO Rick Parry to seek a new buyer. That they came to end up selling the family silver to Hicks and Gillett was a disaster, one which Read covers brilliantly with input from key participants within the club and the media.
The book provides a fascinating insight into a turbulent period in Liverpool's history and a fantastic reflection on how the power struggles between Benitez and the two owners played out. The Spaniard ultimately was perhaps the architect of his own downfall at Anfield, engaging in politicking continually, but under his management the fact that Liverpool remained competitive and went within a whisker of winning the League in 2009 is to his eternal credit - especially when you consider the backdrop of what he was working against. It also highlights the power of the fan-led protests through Spirit of Shankly and other groups. Highly recommended.
September 8, 2020
Battle for the Kop
Not being a Liverpool fan or a fan of the English Premiership, perhaps I was the wrong audience for this book. However, imam a football fan and am fascinated with the financial machinations that can happen, having watched my own club Heart of Midlothian try to unshackle from an unscrupulous and unbalanced owner who dragged us into relegation before being ousted.
It was an entertaining read, but perhaps if I had more affinity to the club I'd have enjoyed it more.
Not being a Liverpool fan or a fan of the English Premiership, perhaps I was the wrong audience for this book. However, imam a football fan and am fascinated with the financial machinations that can happen, having watched my own club Heart of Midlothian try to unshackle from an unscrupulous and unbalanced owner who dragged us into relegation before being ousted.
It was an entertaining read, but perhaps if I had more affinity to the club I'd have enjoyed it more.
August 19, 2021
A must read
Second LFC book of Brian's I have read. It delivers a huge insight into the turmoil my club was in back then, far more than I could remember. Brilliant effort from all the fans that done their bit to rid the club of these two jokers. Throughouly recommend this book to all Liverpool fans.
Second LFC book of Brian's I have read. It delivers a huge insight into the turmoil my club was in back then, far more than I could remember. Brilliant effort from all the fans that done their bit to rid the club of these two jokers. Throughouly recommend this book to all Liverpool fans.
September 16, 2021
You will read reviews by people who have no emotional connection with the club. trust them not. This is a harrowing story of greed and corruption, perpetrated on one of the icons of the game. For the initiated, it was a Greek drama- full of life and death moments of high drama and low despair. Wonderful journalism by someone who was there and who knows.
August 1, 2018
Great in sight to how these cowboys nearly destroyed the best club in the world....
August 7, 2019
A reminder how close the club came to disaster under a pair of cowboys, very few people around the club come out well though Broughton undoubtedly does.
July 28, 2020
Dark days!!!😔
June 1, 2025
3.4*
October 11, 2011
Brian Reade is a journalist with the Daily Mirror and I remember enjoying his columns back when I used to read that paper in the smoking room at Safeways (not that I smoked, but that's where everyone sat). I have a vague memory that he wrote a few colums which annoyed me to the extent that I stopped paying him any attention but after rediscovering him via @ourcraig on twitter I thought I should finally check out his take on Liverpool's ownership saga. I'm glad I did.
This book didn't really teach me anything I didn't already know, but it added fat to the meat on the bones of my understanding. David Moores was the last of the amateur English chairmen of Liverpool - his era was cloaked in cock-ups and no true Liverpool fan was displeased to see the back of the man associated with the Souness (who sold his story to the S*n on an anniversary of Hillsborough), Evans (Mr. Nice Guy) & Houllier (no Plan B) regimes. His desparation to find a suitable "out" led him from one despicable buyer to the next until he fell for the confidence tricks of Messers Gillett & Hicks. Initially welcomed by naive Liverpool fans who were too keen to separate themselves from the anti-Glazer brigade at Old Trafford, the new ownership took a club which had not long since won the European Cup in heroic circumstances and pushed them toward points deduction and relegation under the stewardship of Fleet St favourite Roy Hodgson.
Reade narrates the story from the perspective of a well connected die-hard fan. Interesting snippets include godlike manager Rafael Benitez's despair and paranoia; long-serving players Carragher and Gerrard and their refusal to speak out; and the back story of the passionate campaign by true kopites to kick the cowboys out.
The story told in this impressive book could be a case study in any number of other collections - be they analyzing capitalism; confidence tricks; or sports ownership more generally. The overwhelming feeling is that people involved with the sport are too eager to believe the hype surrounding it and those who are able to see through the hype can either achieve amazing success on the field or can take advantage of the blind to make millions. The happy ending (so far) in this story is that our cowboy owners got too greedy and wouldn't let go of the bone until it fell into the water. They are now continuing to try to recoup their losses via the courts.
This book didn't really teach me anything I didn't already know, but it added fat to the meat on the bones of my understanding. David Moores was the last of the amateur English chairmen of Liverpool - his era was cloaked in cock-ups and no true Liverpool fan was displeased to see the back of the man associated with the Souness (who sold his story to the S*n on an anniversary of Hillsborough), Evans (Mr. Nice Guy) & Houllier (no Plan B) regimes. His desparation to find a suitable "out" led him from one despicable buyer to the next until he fell for the confidence tricks of Messers Gillett & Hicks. Initially welcomed by naive Liverpool fans who were too keen to separate themselves from the anti-Glazer brigade at Old Trafford, the new ownership took a club which had not long since won the European Cup in heroic circumstances and pushed them toward points deduction and relegation under the stewardship of Fleet St favourite Roy Hodgson.
Reade narrates the story from the perspective of a well connected die-hard fan. Interesting snippets include godlike manager Rafael Benitez's despair and paranoia; long-serving players Carragher and Gerrard and their refusal to speak out; and the back story of the passionate campaign by true kopites to kick the cowboys out.
The story told in this impressive book could be a case study in any number of other collections - be they analyzing capitalism; confidence tricks; or sports ownership more generally. The overwhelming feeling is that people involved with the sport are too eager to believe the hype surrounding it and those who are able to see through the hype can either achieve amazing success on the field or can take advantage of the blind to make millions. The happy ending (so far) in this story is that our cowboy owners got too greedy and wouldn't let go of the bone until it fell into the water. They are now continuing to try to recoup their losses via the courts.
May 6, 2011
Brian Reade stands apart from so many of his contemporaries who have worked in the tabloid press. The word that I am looking for is simple: HONESTY.
Whenever I think of him, I always think of Istanbul and that wonderful European Cup Final of 2005. I make no apologies for calling it the European Cup for that is what it is! He appeared in a documentary called 'One Night In May', one which became one of Sky Sports' most successful non-live productions.
He spoke then of his feelings at Half-Time, of the transformation in the early stage of the Second Half, and more than anything about trying to make any sense of it as he stood with his young boy. Simply, he was another fan, a family man, looking after his son, watching his football club. All that stood him apart is the ability to articulate his thoughts better than most.
'An Epic Swindle' illustrates exactly that. A man absolutely passionate about his club, and utterly in despair at the depths to which the previous owners had brought it - literally to its knees, and 2 hours from going into administration.
His own knowledge and passion is evident, but it is his reputation as an honest and articulate writer / journalist that gains the trust of the most eminent figures in the football club, to include Rafael Benitez, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, and gets a totally authentic inside view as to the turmoil in which the club found itself.
This is a story told in the words of many, but put together beautifully and with great passion by Reade. Nothing to this point has so accurately and in detail chronicled the journey of one of sport's most famous establishments to its very knees at the hands of 2 unscrupulous business men who had no regard for each other, let alone the supporters of this special club.
Whenever I think of him, I always think of Istanbul and that wonderful European Cup Final of 2005. I make no apologies for calling it the European Cup for that is what it is! He appeared in a documentary called 'One Night In May', one which became one of Sky Sports' most successful non-live productions.
He spoke then of his feelings at Half-Time, of the transformation in the early stage of the Second Half, and more than anything about trying to make any sense of it as he stood with his young boy. Simply, he was another fan, a family man, looking after his son, watching his football club. All that stood him apart is the ability to articulate his thoughts better than most.
'An Epic Swindle' illustrates exactly that. A man absolutely passionate about his club, and utterly in despair at the depths to which the previous owners had brought it - literally to its knees, and 2 hours from going into administration.
His own knowledge and passion is evident, but it is his reputation as an honest and articulate writer / journalist that gains the trust of the most eminent figures in the football club, to include Rafael Benitez, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, and gets a totally authentic inside view as to the turmoil in which the club found itself.
This is a story told in the words of many, but put together beautifully and with great passion by Reade. Nothing to this point has so accurately and in detail chronicled the journey of one of sport's most famous establishments to its very knees at the hands of 2 unscrupulous business men who had no regard for each other, let alone the supporters of this special club.
July 11, 2013
Made an excellent and quick read. Reade made a convincing case of how two greedy American businessmen tried to squeeze a venerable sporting institution for every last penny in the hope of making a tidy profit (while at the same time, they had staked almost nothing).
Reade recounts everything from the brief honeymoon period between the new American owners: Tom Hicks and George Gillet and Liverpool FC (which they had purchased thanks to financing from RBS); to how things started getting ugly after the credit crunch and the owners unable to live up to their sky-high promises of an improved stadium and massive transfer funding. Reade also tries to be as neutral as possible in the ensuing "Anfield Civil War" where the owners fell apart and lines were drawn among the manager, the CEO, the Staff, and later on, even among the squad!
Reade is a passionate Liverpool fan (and a Daily Mirror columnist), and presents their side of the story most compellingly. How finally, a bunch of passionate Liverpudlians took it upon themselves to get rid of the owners and organised a massive union which mobilized itself to dissuade any company/group from refinancing the Americans (although they were dubbed "internet terrorists" by Hicks), and finally, a British High Court ruling had to force the Americans to part with the club because they were both broke and RBS wanted their money back.
The message that I took away from the book was that a bunch of passionate, determined people could, with hard work and diligence, bring down two Wall-Street spin-masters to their knees. YNWA!
Reade recounts everything from the brief honeymoon period between the new American owners: Tom Hicks and George Gillet and Liverpool FC (which they had purchased thanks to financing from RBS); to how things started getting ugly after the credit crunch and the owners unable to live up to their sky-high promises of an improved stadium and massive transfer funding. Reade also tries to be as neutral as possible in the ensuing "Anfield Civil War" where the owners fell apart and lines were drawn among the manager, the CEO, the Staff, and later on, even among the squad!
Reade is a passionate Liverpool fan (and a Daily Mirror columnist), and presents their side of the story most compellingly. How finally, a bunch of passionate Liverpudlians took it upon themselves to get rid of the owners and organised a massive union which mobilized itself to dissuade any company/group from refinancing the Americans (although they were dubbed "internet terrorists" by Hicks), and finally, a British High Court ruling had to force the Americans to part with the club because they were both broke and RBS wanted their money back.
The message that I took away from the book was that a bunch of passionate, determined people could, with hard work and diligence, bring down two Wall-Street spin-masters to their knees. YNWA!
January 23, 2012
So I started reading this waaaaay back in the summer of last year. It took me ages because I was only dipping into it now and then. I'm not brilliant at reading non-fiction, so. But I just finished with a bit of a gallop today and wow... what an ending to the book that was! I seriously felt myself catapulted back to October 2010 and was reliving all the court drama all over again, but this time with a front row seat.
Brian Reade really captured all the key moments with some really brilliant, imaginative, hard-hitting writing. He covered so many different aspects of the 44 months of hell and really illustrated the part the fans played in it, a lot of which I had been unaware of before. The job the likes of Mick Carroll and Alan Kayll did in orchestrating different movements to try and get the Americans out was nothing short of heroic and I never realised it until I read Reade's book.
That all taken into account, I feel like a much better, more well informed Liverpool supporter having read this book. It only loses a star because I found some of it realy hard going, but that is really more to do with me than the book itself. Amazing read!
Brian Reade really captured all the key moments with some really brilliant, imaginative, hard-hitting writing. He covered so many different aspects of the 44 months of hell and really illustrated the part the fans played in it, a lot of which I had been unaware of before. The job the likes of Mick Carroll and Alan Kayll did in orchestrating different movements to try and get the Americans out was nothing short of heroic and I never realised it until I read Reade's book.
That all taken into account, I feel like a much better, more well informed Liverpool supporter having read this book. It only loses a star because I found some of it realy hard going, but that is really more to do with me than the book itself. Amazing read!
August 4, 2011
The troubled tenure of George and Tom is given the Brian Reade treatment - complete with interviews with the key playes (both named and unnamed).
On the one hand, there is insight which hadn't been made public before - and not all of it to do with the Americans. The work of the fan groups and the details of the legal battle are particularly good to read.
On the downside, the book does feel a little rushed - not surprising given how quickly it has been published since the new Americans replaced the old ones.
What also lets the book down is Reade's penchant for adding his own asides and witty observations - fine if we were chatting down the pub, but it feels slightly out of place in what is claiming to be a serious account of a tortuous period in the club's history.
On the one hand, there is insight which hadn't been made public before - and not all of it to do with the Americans. The work of the fan groups and the details of the legal battle are particularly good to read.
On the downside, the book does feel a little rushed - not surprising given how quickly it has been published since the new Americans replaced the old ones.
What also lets the book down is Reade's penchant for adding his own asides and witty observations - fine if we were chatting down the pub, but it feels slightly out of place in what is claiming to be a serious account of a tortuous period in the club's history.
July 14, 2011
A great book for Liverpool supporters and for those interested in the growing trends of leveraged buyouts in football in general.
Brian Reade writes an in-depth account of what went on at Liverpool football club between 2007 and 2011 under the reign of Tom Hicks and George Gillette. Taking in the stories of a number of actors ranging between the SOS campaigners to the Dubai Investment Capital consortium, the book is hugely compelling due to a combination of great story telling and the real drama of events at Liverpool in the eponymous 44 months. The drama boils over in last few chapters which cover the final High Court case that turned the club over to NESV.
Brian Reade writes an in-depth account of what went on at Liverpool football club between 2007 and 2011 under the reign of Tom Hicks and George Gillette. Taking in the stories of a number of actors ranging between the SOS campaigners to the Dubai Investment Capital consortium, the book is hugely compelling due to a combination of great story telling and the real drama of events at Liverpool in the eponymous 44 months. The drama boils over in last few chapters which cover the final High Court case that turned the club over to NESV.
January 13, 2018
Important reading for all Liverpool fans showing how low things were and how close it got to going into administration and how off the field civil war had a massive impact on the field. Not overly impressed with the writing style. This is a valuable piece of journalism for the history of LFC but the author couldn't resist pointless digs at United that just detracted from the importance of the narrative. His reference to Martin Broughton as Sir Humphrey Bufton-Tufton especially in the chapter where Mr Broughton is seeing off the enemy in the High Court seems a tad unnecessary when he is basically saving the club. Nevertheless, excellent especially the bits about the fans' involvement.
April 30, 2013
As a newbie long-distance fan who has very little knowledge and interest of finance, I'm very thankful for Mr Reade who explained our club's saga in common words. Love the inside stories on the lads of SOS as well...I was very moved with the way the supporters come together to save the club. Along with the immense anger and hatred for the cowboys. I knew it was a bad time but now this book pointed out how bad it was.
I'm also very relieved because I have more understanding on our hero's, Rafa Benitez's, departure. Maybe Torres as well (doesn't mean that he's forgiven, tho)
I'm also very relieved because I have more understanding on our hero's, Rafa Benitez's, departure. Maybe Torres as well (doesn't mean that he's forgiven, tho)
November 4, 2015
A decent enough read, although it does play up to the Scouse "woe is me", permanently aggrieved mentality.
A thoroughly-researched examination of Gillet and Hicks' takeover of Liverpool, why it failed so badly and the effect it had on the club, its fans and staff.
Could have been improved with fewer examples of tabloidese language sneaking in (almost forgivable as Reade is a tabloid sports reporter in his day job) and by continuing on for another year to show how things changed under NESV.
A thoroughly-researched examination of Gillet and Hicks' takeover of Liverpool, why it failed so badly and the effect it had on the club, its fans and staff.
Could have been improved with fewer examples of tabloidese language sneaking in (almost forgivable as Reade is a tabloid sports reporter in his day job) and by continuing on for another year to show how things changed under NESV.
July 24, 2011
Great book for any Liverpool fan who was lost in the wilderness before the life saving take-over.Explains the pros and cons (well ,the cons and cons)of Messers Hicks and Gillett.Nice written funny in parts and described laymanlike.Trust me worth an insight..
July 20, 2013
Currently finishing this off after much hype and it doesn't let you down. The only downside is the occasional use of childish language but it does paint a picture of a LFC fan and his passion to bring the story to life.
March 26, 2024
This is a MUST-read for anyone wanting to know the truth of Hicks' and Gillett's reign of terror. The story of the SOS is really heart-warming and makes you realise how special it is to support this club, with or without the silverware.
April 23, 2016
It was an interesting read which unearthed what utter asshats Hicks and Gillette really were. I can't believe those clowns were allowed to go anywhere near our club.
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March 18, 2012Superb book, informative and enjoyable in equal measure, a must read for all Liverpool fans.
April 6, 2012
Very very good & interesting read.
Would recommend for anyone interested in the situation at LFC at the time.
Would recommend for anyone interested in the situation at LFC at the time.
November 19, 2012
You read the odd story in the paper. and see a news report now again but it was scary reading this as to how close those 2 clowns came to destroying my Liverpool.
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