Reliable journalist: Liverpool senior man to quit in weeks
By Will Butcher
Ian Ayre is set to leave his position as Liverpool’s chief executive at the end of the month as the club look to reconstruct their hierarchy.
The Times’ correspondent Paul Joyce revealed on his personal Twitter account that Ayre will step down in four weeks’ time, despite being due to leave his post at the end of the season.
The senior Liverpool figure was expected to depart at the end of his current contract, which expires in the summer but is now set to leave earlier.
The Independent claim that Ayre will move to Germany to join 1860 Munich despite being fifth from bottom in the second tier of German football, with a date or title yet to be confirmed.
This comes after Ayre was reportedly stripped of a handful of responsibilities, including transfer negotiations, after the Reds appointed Michael Edwards as sporting director of the club.
With Ayre leaving, Edwards’ promotion will also see Billy Hogan cover the departure by becoming the club’s managing director as well as remaining as chief commercial officer.
Andy Hughes is now the chief operating officer and these changes will see Ayre’s successor, who will be announced at the end of the 2016-17 campaign, have significantly less duties.
Ayre has been with the Merseyside giants after being head hunted by former owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett in 2007.
Beginning as a commercial director, the 63-year-old was promoted to managing director in 2010 under John W. Henry, before becoming chief executive in 2014.
Ayre will be known for striking one of the most lucrative sponsorship deals in football history with Standard Chartered Bank, which remains as Liverpool’s current shirt sponsor.
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