Bhatia vows to help Liverpool achieve greater success after FSG investment deal

Liverpool’s prospective new minority investor Amit Bhatia says he wants to help the club achieve further success while ensuring supporters remain at the heart of his involvement.

Fenway Sports Group (FSG), Liverpool’s owners, have reached a definitive agreement to sell a minority equity stake to 1892 Holdings, a consortium led and managed by Bhatia. The deal is still subject to regulatory approval.

Bhatia is expected at Anfield on Saturday for Liverpool’s Premier League fixture against Nottingham Forest, after being invited to the match by Liverpool principal owner John Henry alongside his family and fellow partners.

Speaking about the prospect of becoming involved with the club, Bhatia said: “It feels incredible. It feels surreal when I hear those words.”

“We’re talking about Liverpool Football Club. We’re talking about the greatest football club in the world. To have the ability to be involved in any capacity is a huge privilege and a huge honour.”

Bhatia said his admiration for Liverpool went beyond the team’s achievements on the pitch, highlighting the club’s history, culture and supporters.

“I’m just the biggest admirer of everything that is associated with this football club, whether it’s the history and the culture, the supporters and the journey of this club,” he said.

He also paid tribute to the way FSG has run the club and stressed that the existing ownership would retain control.

“The club remains under the ownership of FSG; we are a minority who have been invited to sit alongside them,” Bhatia said.

“They have run the club incredibly well and brought enormous success. To potentially have a seat at the table alongside people of such high integrity is a huge honour.”

Bhatia said his approach would be based on being a supporter first, and that the consortium’s principal ambition was to contribute to Liverpool’s continued progress while making fans even prouder of their club.

“I am a fan first,” he said. “My involvement in sport has always been as a fan first.

“All that we can hope for is that we can bring more success to the club. But more importantly, that we can make the fans even more proud of the football club that they support.”

He acknowledged the lasting importance of Liverpool to its supporters and said 1892 Holdings would take its responsibility seriously if the investment is approved.

“The club has been around since 1892 and it will be around long after we’re all gone,” he added.

“For the period of time that we are lucky enough to be involved, we have a responsibility to help the club move forward.”

Bhatia also ruled out any suggestion that 1892 Holdings would seek to influence Liverpool’s daily operations.

“FSG are the decision-makers and this is their ownership,” he said.

“Our involvement would be in any capacity that FSG felt we could be useful. In any way they believe we can add value for the betterment of the football club, we will make ourselves available.”

The consortium brings together people from different regions and professional backgrounds, which Bhatia believes could provide Liverpool with fresh ideas and experience.

“We come from different geographies and different professions, and hopefully that brings different experiences and ideas,” he said.

“The potential for this football club is still vast. We are very excited to see what the future holds.”

Bhatia has previously watched Liverpool at Anfield from the away end during his involvement with QPR and has attended several of the club’s matches over the past year. Saturday’s visit will have a different significance because of the proposed investment.

“It’ll be different to attend this time, but hugely exciting,” Bhatia said.

“How can you not be excited? It’s the biggest and greatest football club in the world.

“If we can be involved, help elevate the club and support it in any way, we are ready and willing. We can’t wait to help in any way that we are called upon.”