David Ornstein has hinted at a potential timeline for a prospective change of ownership at Liverpool Football Club.
Last month, a 38% stake in the club was purchased by 1892 Holdings, a consortium led and managed by Amit Bhatia and also including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin.
As per The Athletic, the investor group has the option to buy a controlling stake in LFC within the next year, although operational control remains in the hands of incumbent owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) for the time being.
Ornstein hints at timeline for ownership change at Anfield
In a Q&A for The Athletic, Ornstein was responding to a question as to whether 1892 Holdings would have a say in the appointment of a new sporting director at Liverpool, with that role left vacant after the recent exit of Richard Hughes, when he hinted at a potential timeline for a possible ownership change at Anfield.
He wrote: ‘Are we going to see ownership change at Liverpool in the next year or two? I think there’s quite a good possibility of it. Certainly, people you speak to in the game, in the market, around Anfield think so.’
Want more Empire of the Kop coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for news you can trust
Many vital questions remain unanswered
Considering the size of the stake that the consortium purchased in August, it’s hard to escape the sense that they ultimately have their sights set on overall control of the club in the foreseeable future.
Ornstein’s hint that a change of ownership could happen in the next two years (as backed by people within the industry) may well have Liverpool fans feeling apprehensive about the motives of those involved in 1892 Holdings.
For now, many fundamental questions remain unanswered. Why does the consortium want to invest in LFC? Are they intending to take full control and, if so, when? What changes do they plan to make at the club if they become the majority shareholders?
The involvement of Bezos is a particular red flag for many Reds supporters, given his reputation for abhorrent treatment of employees in his businesses and his active right-wing support of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.
FSG have been far from perfect at Anfield, but at least they’ve demonstrated a willingness to reverse unpopular decisions amid fan backlash and have grown the value of the club many times over since their stewardship began in 2010, all whilst adhering to a self-sustaining business model.
If and when they do step aside, we hope and pray that whoever takes over – most likely 1892 Holdings – will run the club with the best interests of supporters at heart.