Hello and welcome to a Liverpool Blood Red podcast special. Nine years ago in February 2009

Liverpool's long standing chief executive Rick Perry announced that he would be stepping down from his role.

The man who would replace him in June of that year as

managing director was Christian Purzlow. A Liverpool season ticket holder who

grew up in the world, Purzlow temporarily left behind a successful business career to take the reins at

Anfield at one of the most dramatic times in the club's history.

American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillette were embroiled in a damaging civil

war which had taken the club to its knees.

As well as taking on the day-to-day running of Liverpool, Perslle was also involved in a desperate

search for investment, with Hicks and Gillette having borrowed the money to buy the club

and with the banks anxious for it to be paid back.

The club itself was been forced to meet significant interest payments on those loans.

Within a year and a half, Perslow was in the High Court as part of a Liverpool board which had voted

to rid itself of Hicks and sell the club to Nesvy, now of course known as F.S.G.

He and his fellow board members, Martinroughton and Inair emerged victorious to the

Cheers of Liverpool supporters who had travelled to the court case in London.

For some he was one of the heroes of that troubled time, freeing LFC from the clutches of a pair of

despised owners despite their loud threats of legal action amid their claims they had been the victims of an

epic swindle. For others though the departure of much love manager

Rafa Benitez was entirely down to unnecessary interference from Perslow and the

breakdown of their relationship. For them Mr Mr. Purzlow became the enemy. Andy Kelly and

Neil Jones travelled to London to speak with Mr. Purzlow by his time at

...