‘Move on’: Jamie Redknapp issues warning to Liverpool fans wanting John W Henry and FSG to leave

Jamie Redknapp claims he understands Liverpool fans’ anger towards owner John W Henry and Fenway Sports Group but issued a ‘be careful what you wish for’ warning.

The Merseysiders were one of the six Premier League clubs to sign up for the controversial European Super League – the breakaway league founded on Sunday but was botched 48 hours after its inception after several clubs pulled out.

Henry made an emotional apology video to the Liverpool fans on Wednesday after withdrawing the club’s involvement, claiming he had ‘let you (the Reds supporters) down.’ 

After the Spirit of Shankly Supporters Group claimed Henry’s words for hollow, Sky Sports pundit Redknapp called for Liverpool fans to ‘move on’ and be hesitant to call for the owner and FSG to leave the club.

Redknapp told Sky Sports on Wednesday: ‘They (the fans) got what they wanted. It’s really important, of course there will be anger towards the owners. Liverpool fans towards John W Henry, I can understand that. 

‘They made a huge mistake, everyone makes mistakes in life. All you can do is apologise and move on. 

‘Let’s say they want to sell the club, whoever comes in next is going to be in the same position. They won’t be Liverpool fans from day one. It’s a power play and money play. Let’s be careful for what we wish for.’

Henry has been in charge of Liverpool since 2010, taking over from unpopular American duo Tom Hicks and George Gillett as owner of the Anfield club. 

The 71-year-old was one of the key voices in the European Super League project as was named as one of the four vice-chairmen of the idea along with Arsenal’s Stan Kroenke, Juventus’ Andrea Agnelli and Manchester United’s Joel Glazer. 

Henry’s claimed in his statement on Wednesday morning: ‘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.

‘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. 

‘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.’

But the Spirit of Shankly group released their own statement surely after the club’s public apology, saying: ‘We have noted John Henry’s apology, but this PR exercise is too little too late. These crocodile tears will not wash. 

‘Actions speak louder than “hollow” words. Liverpool Football Club is not an American franchise, it is a community steeped in history and tradition.’

Redknapp insisted the focus should now be on improving the Premier League and Champions League competition, despite the ‘repugnant’ way the ‘Big Six’ clubs tried to force a new league that would see them qualify for the competition every year. 

The Sky Sports pundit added: ‘Football has been about the fans, everyone has proved the power they can have. We move on, let’s make this the best Premier League we can possibly do. 

‘The Champions League needs the revamp and this could be the disruption football needs but the way they went about it was repugnant.’