Fans will be 'bemused' by Neill snub - Parry

Liverpool supremo Rick Parry admits that fans will be “bemused” by Lucas Neill’s decision to snub Anfield and move to relegation-threatened West Ham.

Neill moved to Upton Park yesterday for what is believed to be a £50,000 (€76,000)-a-week wage packet, £15,000 (€23,000) a week more than he was offered by Liverpool.

The Australian claims he moved not for the money but because he felt West Ham really wanted him while Liverpool were not committed in their approach, and he never had the chance to talk to the main men at Anfield, including boss Rafael Benitez.

Now chief executive Parry has entered the argument, and said in a LFC Magazine article: “The decision by Lucas Neill not to accept our terms after we agreed a fee with Blackburn will bemuse many fans.

“Players make their decisions and while you are sometimes surprised, you have to move on to the next one.”

Parry added: “Neill had the choice between Liverpool and West Ham, we were offering him the opportunity of Champions League football. What we want are players with an instinctive desire to play for Liverpool. We want people with a real passion to come here and help us win trophies.

“Clearly, there will always be a chance for players to earn well if they do well.”

Neill claimed he was a Liverpool fan as a boy but felt the club were not even sure they would play him regularly.

Parry said: “However, at the end of the day it is up to the individual to decide what is best for his career. From our side, we never want to be in a position where someone is only coming here for the money. A player has to be driven by something more than that.

“Because of the stature, history and ambition of Liverpool, there should be no need for us to sell the merits of this club. It’s Neill’s decision and it’s his future. It has happened before and it will happen again.”

Neill is likely to make his Barclays Premiership debut for West Ham next Tuesday at Upton Park against Liverpool.