The divisions in the Anfield boardroom have been laid bare during a tumultuous past week when Liverpool’s name has been dragged through the mud. Here, The Times examines the contrasting relationships between the main players in the soap opera.

Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr, American co-owners

Despite declaring when they bought the club in February last year that their main priority was “winning, then passion, respect for tradition, and legacy”, relations between the business partners soon became fractured and now they are not on speaking terms. Gillett admitted last month that their relationship had been “unworkable for some time”, while Hicks has become incensed by Gillett’s attempts to paint him as the villain of the piece.

Hicks and Rick Parry, chief executive

The full extent of the hostility has become apparent only over the past few days, with Parry claiming that it has been a “nightmare” working under Hicks and the Texan, in turn, branding the chief executive as “arrogant” with an “inability to manage an organisation”. Theirs is the most corrosive relationship.

Parry and Rafael BenÍtez, manager

BenÍtez has been privately critical of Parry for some time and the manager could barely contain his disgust on Sunday after learning that Parry was present at one of the two meetings with the co-owners and Jürgen Klinsmann, the former Germany coach, last year. It is difficult to see how the pair can continue to work together.

Gillett and Parry

Gillett offered Parry his full backing last week amid Hicks’s calls for the chief executive’s resignation, but while Parry has the support of Gillett, there is a feeling that theirs is more a marriage of convenience.

Gillett and BenÍtez

Although Hicks initially took the heat for the Klinsmann episode, BenÍtez has come to hold Gillett responsible for arranging the meetings to discuss the possibility of the German taking over as manager.

Hicks and BenÍtez

Some at the club believe that Hicks’s repeated pleas of support for BenÍtez are little more than a smokescreen through which the Texan hopes to curry favour, but both are in regular contact.

Hicks and Ian Ayre, commercial director

Close allies. Hicks want to replace Parry with Ayre, who he claims has “positioned the club to take advantage of its success on the pitch.”