George Gillett, left, had described his partnership with Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks as ‘unworkable’. Photograph: PA

George Gillett says he has begun to rebuild his working relationship with fellow Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks.

Less than three months ago Gillett had declared their partnership “unworkable” after Hicks refused to sell his stake in the club to Dubai International Capital, but today he suggested they were once again on speaking terms and were working together to ensure Liverpool would be more competitive next term.

“It’s fair to say that communication between the Hicks and the Gilletts has been substantially improved and I believe that it will be for the benefit of the club, said Gillett. “Time is a healer and there were things that had happened previously. It took a while for both of us to realise that we weren’t communicating very well and the huge responsibility we have to the fans to do the right thing for the club.

Gillett, speaking to the Canadian radio station Fan590, would not be drawn on whether he still intended to sell his shares in the club, saying only that: “All of us are focused on the transfer window and we want to be ready for that.” He was initially equally coy in his assessment of the team’s performance last season, saying that it was up to the supporters to judge such things, but he soon acknowledged some disappointment at the failure to claim any silverware.

“For a club that has a history of winning trophies, any season that you don’t win one of the five or six trophies that we compete for, I suspect the fans, as well as the Hicks and Gilletts, are disappointed,” added Gillett in the interview, which was picked up by the Liverpool Echo. “But overall I felt that the team played quite well, particularly beginning and late.

“I think they were very representative and I think Torres was a wonderful selection. By summer I think the rest of the boys played quite well and we have to help Rafa try and be more competitive in the chase for the Premiership.”

About this articleCloseThis article was first published on guardian.co.uk on Friday June 20 2008. It was last updated at 14:25 on June 20 2008.

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