There are many things you can say about Tom Hicks, the man who owns half of Liverpool, but you can't deny he's clever. He bought - with George Gillett Jr - Anfield on the cheap and will make a huge profit when he eventually leaves.

Hicks has also taken the initiative in the propaganda war. After almost sacking Rafael Benitez in December, he has realised the strength of feeling among the fans and performed a remarkable U-turn on the manager. Almost as astute has been his targetting of Rick Parry, the chief executive.

Parry is not so popular among the fans - after all, he brokered the deal to Hicks and Gillett. But the disatisfaction with Parry runs deeper. The chief executive carried the can for the Athens ticket fiasco, when Liverpool fans were in uproar over the scanty percentage of the 17,000 ticket allocation that made its way to the suppporters. His refusal to 'play the numbers game' over where the tickets went alienated the support.

So when Hicks turned his ire on Parry, saying the chief executive had showed contempt for the fans, it muddied the waters. Even the Texan's biggest opponents couldn't help but agree. And now he wants to keep Rafa at the club for even longer than his present contract - who can argue with that? Classic divide and conquer tactics.

Yet Hicks's attempt to woo his opponents is bound to fail. Like all propaganda, it is just words. The supporters know that the American has not got the money to sustain long-term ownership of the club. Words are cheap. Breaking ground on the new stadium in Stanley Park is expensive.

Liverpool supporters have been fooled once. It won't work again.