The message is Henry’s first public comments since news of the Super League broke.
Liverpool owner John W. Henry has released a video message to the club’s supporters in a bid to apologise to fans for the club’s attempt at forming a breakaway Super League alongside 11 of Europe’s richest clubs.
Making his first public comments since news of the plans broke on Sunday afternoon, Henry also sought to apologise to the club’s manager, Jurgen Klopp, as well as the players and staff.
Henry said: “I want to apologise to all the fans and supporters of Liverpool Football Club for the disruption I caused over the past 48 hours.”
He then acknowledged that the Super League “was never going to stand without the support of fans”, despite not consulting fans about the plans in any way whatsoever: “It goes without saying but should be said that the project put forward was never going to stand without the support of the fans. No-one ever thought differently in England. Over these 48 hours you were very clear that it would not stand. We heard you. I heard you.”
Henry addresses the distrust that will be felt towards him after the scandalous and ill-thought out plans, but insisted that the plans were done with the club’s interests at heart.
“Our work isn’t done. And I hope you’ll understand that even when we make mistakes, we’re trying to work in your club’s best interests. In this endeavour I’ve let you down,” he said.
John W Henry's message to Liverpool supporters. pic.twitter.com/pHW3RbOcKu
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 21, 2021
Read Henry’s message in full below:
I want to apologise to all the fans and supporters of Liverpool Football Club for the disruption I caused over the past 48 hours.
It goes without saying but should be said that the project put forward was never going to stand without the support of the fans. No-one ever thought differently in England. Over these 48 hours you were very clear that it would not stand. We heard you. I heard you.
And I want to apologise to Jürgen, to Billy, to the players and to everyone who works so hard at LFC to make our fans proud. They have absolutely no responsibility for this disruption. They were the most disrupted and unfairly so. This is what hurts most. They love your club and work to make you proud every single day.
I know the entire LFC team has the expertise, leadership and passion necessary to rebuild trust and help us move forward. More than a decade ago when we signed up for the challenges associated with football, we dreamed of what you dreamed of. And we’ve worked hard to improve your club. Our work isn’t done. And I hope you’ll understand that even when we make mistakes, we’re trying to work in your club’s best interests. In this endeavour I’ve let you down.
Again, I’m sorry, and I alone am responsible for the unnecessary negativity brought forward over the past couple of days. It’s something I won’t forget. And shows the power the fans have today and will rightly continue to have.
If there’s one thing this horrible pandemic has clearly shown, it’s how crucial fans are to our sport and to every sport. It’s shown in every empty stadium. It’s been an incredibly tough year for all of us; virtually no-one unaffected. It’s important that the Liverpool football family remains intact, vital and committed to what we’ve seen from you globally, with local gestures of kindness and support. I can promise you I will do whatever I can to further that.
Thanks for listening.
Henry may have some more work to do to win back the fans, however, with Jamie Carragher insisting on Sky Sports that the Super League saga ‘will never be forgotten.’
“I do not see how John Henry can come to the club ever again. This will never be forgotten. The best thing for them would be to find a buyer.”
