Liverpool co-owner George Gillett added his opinion Thursday to the ongoing boardroom turmoil at the club, calling his partner's "outburst" a distraction ahead of a crucial Champions League match. ( dpa )
Gillett and Tom Hicks each own 50 per cent of the club, with neither prepared to sell to the other despite their relationship having broken down.
This week Hicks called on chief executive Rick Parry to resign, branding his decade at the helm of the club "a disaster" in an interview with Sky Sports.
Parry hit back in kind and Gillett, who clearly backs the chief executive, has now urged Hicks to stop destabilising the club.
"I am saddened at this latest outburst from Tom Hicks," he said.
"If Tom wanted a serious discussion on the issues to help the club move forward, he should bring his views to the board and not to Sky Sports.
"Here we are, a few days away from a vital Champions League semi-final match and Tom has once again created turmoil with his public comments," Gillet said.
"Tom should stop. He knows that Rick Parry has my support and that airing his comments in this way will not change my position."
Hicks's recent statements have sought to make clear that he supports manager Rafa Benitez, insisting it was Gillett and Parry who initiated a meeting with Jurgen Klinsmann, who has been lined up as a possible replacement.
Gillett disputes that. "I was also taken aback by his version of the events as reported," he said.
"Tom needs to understand that I will not sell my shares to him and that we need to find a way forward that is properly funded and truly in the best interests of Liverpool Football Club," he said.
"The real business of winning matches and running and developing the club is what we should all be focused on at this moment."