Liverpool chief executive Ian Ayre has announced that he is to leave the club in May 2017.
The 52-year-old insists he isn’t leaving as a result of the recent season ticket price protests. In fact owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) even asked him to reconsider leaving.
Explaining his decision, Ayre said: “It’s probably the most difficult decision I’ve made, certainly in my professional career.
“It was a difficult decision to come here because I knew the size of the task here at Liverpool and it’s an even more difficult decision to make in leaving.
“But if you care about the club – which I do – and you have so much invested in the club, not just having worked here but through your family and your time as a supporter, then you need to do what you feel is right for the club as well as yourself.
“I feel the timing and the level of commitment that is required, this is the right time and I hope that people see that given the sort of notice I have given to the owners is a mark of respect to them and to the football club.
“I made this decision over the Christmas and New Year period and had a conversation in early January with the owners. So from a timing perspective that’s completely wrong (to claim he’s been pushed as a result of the protests).
“And secondly I think if you can run a football club like Liverpool, and you’re going to be involved as I’ve been for nine years so far, you can’t bend and fall on certain individual issues, albeit that some of them are significant, because there’s been plenty of them in my tenure.
“Part of being a CEO, not just of Liverpool but of any business, is to be strong in difficult times and make difficult decisions and perform through that and bring your team along with you.
“I think of all of that was achieved, so there’s no correlation between the announcement and the ticketing issue.”
Principal owner John W. Henry, chairman Tom Werner and president Mike Gordon said: “Ian advised us of his intention to step down as CEO a few months ago.
“We asked him on several occasions to take some time to reconsider his decision, but have been unable to convince him to remain as CEO beyond May 2017. We will at some point in the near future begin identifying and recruiting a worthy successor to continue to build on the outstanding foundations which have been laid by Ian.
“Under his leadership, we have seen Liverpool transform from a club that was on the brink of bankruptcy, to one which today enjoys strong financial and operational health.
“Stability is a commodity often under-valued in sporting organisations, but it has been a fundamental hallmark of Ian’s time in charge. Liverpool will reap the benefits of his outstanding work for many years to come.
“We have always found Ian to be dedicated, honest, passionate and committed to doing the right thing for the long-term interests of the football club. These fit with our own values as owners and we owe him greatly for the personal sacrifices he has made for the club.
“It is typical of the person he is, once again, Ian is putting the club ahead of his own interest in wanting to announce his decision 15 months before he steps down. This now provides us with plenty of time and space to find a suitable successor.
“There will continue to be important milestones for Liverpool over the next 15 months, not least the completion of the redevelopment at Anfield stadium, and we are grateful that Ian will continue his leadership through to May 2017.”