Ayre defends 'tough' owners

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre does not believe the club's owners have alienated themselves from supporters with the dismissal of Kenny Dalglish and their trans-Atlantic style of management.

Opinion among fans is still divided over whether principal owner John Henry and chairman Tom Werner were right to dismiss Dalglish, a club icon, on Wednesday. That decision, plus the ongoing stadium delays, appears to have brought to an end Fenway Sports Group's honeymoon period dating back to when they took over in October 2010.

But Ayre insists FSG's intention to make tough calls should not be confused with a lack of respect for fans. "I don't think in any way would they alienate themselves. This was such a difficult decision because it was Kenny," he said.

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