Fenway Sports Group (FSG) principal owner John Henry has broken his silence following the shock dismissal of Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora and his backroom staff.
In a move that has sent ripples across the Atlantic to Liverpool supporters, FSG took “ruthless” action early into the 2026 MLB season.
Despite a thumping 17-1 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday, April 25, Cora and five coaches were relieved of their duties following a disappointing 10-17 start to the campaign.
While Henry released a formal statement praising Cora’s “lasting impact” and his role in the 2018 World Series title, he notably bypassed the subsequent press conference.
However, in a rare follow-up via email to the Sports Business Journal, Henry addressed the mounting fan frustration and “Sell the team” chants, drawing a direct comparison to the “FSG Out” protests seen at Anfield.
When Fenway Sports Group arrived on the shores of Merseyside back in late 2010, they had a monumental job on their hands to restore a once-great club. Decaying through the previous ownership, the Reds were sunk towards the bottom of the table under Roy Hodgson.
16 years on, Kopites have seen their club win countless trophies, including the Champions League and their first two Premier League titles. This season has been difficult to navigate for a number of higher-ups, which has seen the club embroiled in a Champions League battle.
FSG are owners are multiple different sports teams, though one of their biggest alongside the Anfield Outfit is the Boston Red Sox, a Major League Baseball club. There has been anger directed at the owners following the early-season sacking of manager Alex Cora.
In an interview with the Sports Business Journal, John Henry spoke about the fans’ reaction, as well as responses from Liverpool supporters in the past.
He said, “The Sox looked terrible for (their) first 25 games. I remember a plane flying overhead when (Liverpool) were beating Manchester United 7-0 that read ‘FSG OUT!’
“It doesn’t mean you ignore them, it means you work harder – you don’t settle for mediocrity. You have to win.”
There are two reasons why these words are significant to the current nature the Reds find themselves in. The first being on the pitch, with Arne Slot seemingly keeping his job despite a lacklustre campaign, with a defeat by the Red Devils this weekend, which almost confirms they will finish above Slot’s troops in the league.
The second being away from the pitch is the recent protests being held in Anfield to counter the announced ticket increases, which will see them rise over the next three years.
The owners know exactly how important it is to have the fans on their side. A comment has yet to come from the owners regarding the protests, as they are expected to continue against Chelsea this weekend.
No matter which way you look at it, for the standards of the club, this has been a mediocre season, which has fans looking at it two ways, but in need of a single solution.
The Dutch head coach is on a thin line for many, whilst others are completely fed up. If they decide to keep him in the job, or believe an alternative can do better, they must finish higher up the league next season.
Let’s see them ‘work harder’
It can’t be underestimated just how important the next four months will be in the hands of FSG, with it arguably being crucial to the club’s success over the next handful of seasons if it goes right, or if it goes wrong.
The first action that will cause their concern will be the ticket protests, which need to be sorted before the last game of the season, you’d like to think. From a fan perspective, the tickets are at a ridiculous level, and with that, the famous old ground will only continue its demise as one of the holy grails of English football.
The second is a review of the manager, and it feels that the belief instilled into the manager and the players has evaporated with how this season has played out. It’s not the case for everyone, but what feels like the majority. Do they stick to their guns or make a change?
Thirdly, the players. Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson have already announced they are leaving this summer, and there will be a lot more out the door. Curtis Jones and Alisson have both been tipped for moves to Italy. FSG don’t have a direct hand in who is sold and who is bought, but what type of budget do they give the club, especially after last summer’s £450 million war chest?
The final piece of the puzzle to complete is for them to be forward-thinking and have a deep dive into the director of football situation. Alongside the manager, Richard Hughes and Michael Edwards’ deals come to a close in 2027.
Since 2020, the Reds have had four directors of football, and it looks soon to be five with Hughes linked to Saudi Arabia. Big verdicts will have to be made on whether they are staying or finding replacements.
Let’s see the hard work commence, as the club can’t fall into ‘mediocrity’ as Henry states, making this period one of the most important in Liverpool’s modern history to put them back on the tracks to success.
