LIVERPOOL owners John Henry and Tom WernerŠhave heaped paise on new Anfield Managing Director Ian Ayre after a major global head-hunting exercise led them to the man working right under their noses.
Principal owner Henry and Reds Chairnan Werner have also promoted Damien Comolli to the role of Director of Football as they seek to build a team capable of leading the five times European Champions back to the top both on and off the pitch. Comolli too has come in for high praise for his talent spotting skills and footballing acumen.
Liverpool’s American chiefs made the double announcement in an officialŠ club statement yesterday evening, bringing to an end an exhaustive search process.
Forty-seven-year-old Ayre has been Commercial Director at Anfield since August 2007, earning significant praise for his role inŠ increasingŠ the club’s external revenues, and will now take up the role vacated by Christian Purslow in October.
Lifelong Liverpool fanatic Ayre was born in Kirkdale and grew up in Litherland before joing the Royal Navy and eventually embarking on a high flying business career.
Fenway Sports Group supremoŠHenry said: “Ian has enormous experience gained from his work in the sports and media businesses over the past 15 years, and we are delighted today to announce this significant appointment.
“We conducted an extensive recruitment search and met with outstanding candidates who sought this role.
“But in the end, after having worked with Ian and other top executives within the club, we realised that Ian had all of the attributes necessary to lead the club forward.
Comolli, 38, was appointed as Director of Football Strategy in November 2010, in one of the first major moves made by Henry following his purchase of the club from George Gillett and Tom Hicks. He has previously held Director of Football roles at both Tottenham and Saint-Etienne.
Henry said: “In the short time that Damien has been at the Club, he has impressed us greatly with his knowledge of the sport, his work ethic and his incisive intelligence.
“He is a clear thinker and understands exactly what is needed to form a long-term, consistent approach with the philosophy we all share here.Š
“All of us at Liverpool Football Club who have been working on a day-to-day basis with Damien believe he will be a key contributor for many, many years here as we build a football operation second to none.”
HeŠadded: “With these key appointments today, the future of Liverpool Football Club is in very good hands.
Tom WernerŠand I are extraordinarily excited to be working with Ian and Damien as we do the things that must be done to move the club forward in the 21st century.”
