By PHIL THOMAS
LIVERPOOL chief Ian Ayre insists owner John W Henry is not dragging the club towards a new cash crisis.
The Reds’ accounts saw their debt rocket to £87.2million leading to fears they could be sliding back to the dark days of George Gillett and Tom Hicks.
Debts rose to £350m under that feuding pair and the club almost went into administration. Henry’s Fenway Sports Group are now at the helm and figures released yesterday revealed annual debt had increased by £21.8m.
But MD Ayre insisted: “The numbers we were facing in terms of interest payments at that time are well documented and this is nothing like that. We have a facility of £120m but it’s only a facility. It’s not crippling our business like before.
“We’ve a really healthy debt structure which allows us to continue to invest in players and staff.”
Ayre insists star players like Luis Suarez will not be sold. The Kop chief added: “If we’re selling anyone it’ll be because the manager says they are surplus to requirements.”
