 A volley of protest songs – aired with increasing regularity on the Kop in recent months – rang out throughout the pub and the venom being directed at Hicks junior was plain for all to see. All of a sudden, his smile was replaced by a grimace of concern. And as the volume was cranked up still further by the swollen crowd, Tommy’s facial expression quickly changed. It appeared to say “Get Me Out Of Here” to his bodyguards. At least his desire to evacuate showed he had something in common with the fans who, by that stage, had adapted one of their favourite protest songs to inform him, not too politely, that the “lying b******d” should get out of their pub. Hicks junior has not told any lies of course. And guilt by association is a heavy burden for any son to have to bear. But as his father’s representative at Anfield on Saturday it borders on the inexplicable that he could have expected anything other than the “welcome” he was given. As his bodyguards got closer one fan swilled Hicks junior with a pint of lager – and given the price of a pint in the Sandon after the match that’s quite a protest. Another spat in his direction. It was ugly and it was nasty. And, perhaps worst of all it was all so avoidable. As it became increasingly clear things could have been about to go badly wrong, Hicks’ bodyguards decided discretion was indeed the better part of valour. They positioned themselves around him and guided him out of the pub through the hostile crowd and into the people carrier. His hasty departure was totally at odds with the way he sauntered into the pub. And yet it is hard to imagine that he expected to get anything other than the reception he got, given the feelings of the fans towards the regime he is a part of. At best, it was a well meaning attempt to build some bridges on Hicks junior’s part. At worst, it was yet another failure to understand English football culture and proof of the failure of Liverpool’s owners to grasp just how unpopular they have become. One thing is for sure – Tom Hicks jnr is unlikely to be going for another pint at the Sandon any time soon.
Related: I wanted to talk to fans, says Tom Hicks Jnr
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