 LIVERPOOL FC co-owner George Gillett met the leadership of fans' union Spirit of Shankly (SOS) minutes before they joined a protest rally against him, it emerged last night. In the meeting, Gillett insisted the club's financial crisis was being overplayed, but admitted a breakdown in communication at the top of the club. Around 4,000 SOS members then marched from the Liverpool Supporters Club to the ground ahead of the Anfield clash with rivals Man United. But, beforehand, four of their number met with Gillett after the American sporting tycoon requested a get-together. He quizzed them on their intentions and the reasons they established SOS. The SOS leadership told Gillett they wanted him and coowner Tom Hicks to sell up and leave Anfield. In response, Gillett insisted the club was on a secure financial footing and blamed the recently-announced delays to building a new stadium on a funding crisis caused by his banks and the credit crunch. An SOS statement also claims the multimillionaire admitted communication at the top of the club was "not as it should be" - between himself, Hicks, commercial manager Ian Ayres, chief executive Rick Parry and manager Rafael Benitez. The statement added: "It was made absolutely clear to Gillett that we were not running our campaign against the current owners at the instigation of Amanda Staveley or anybody else connected to Dubai [International Capital, who have bid to buy the club]. "Spirit Of Shankly told George Gillett what they believed was wrong with the football club, primarily how they were running it and have done since the takeover last year, and also re-emphasising that fans no longer want himself or Tom Hicks running the football club." SOS spokesperson James McKenna added: "For George Gillett to request a meeting with us shows they are hearing our message. They just need to start listening, and we are in no doubt they will soon have to. "They have made a number of promises and failed to deliver. Gillett was told this. Him and Hicks should take a leaf out of [Newcastle owner] Mike Ashley's book, and admit when your time is up, and accept the blame for the wrongs done. "They ought to take the profit they have been offered, and close the door behind them." Undeterred by the thousands that rallied, Gillett was seen in the directors' box at the ground during the match, which Liverpool won 2-1. His co-owner Tom Hicks was also represented by son Alex. Alan Kayll, an SOS member, said: "The march was magnificent. We knew fans were angry and they turned out to prove the point. We all want Hicks and Gillett out, and they can now see as well hear our message. We won't go away and will do everything we possibly can to force them out." | 
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