Liverpool is set for a few new faces in the boardroom this summer, following the confirmation that Fenway Sports Group has sold a significant minority stake in the club.
Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon.com Inc., during the America Business Forum
Jeff Bezos has been approached to invest in Liverpool FC(Image: Photographer: Eva Marie Uzcategui/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Jeff Bezos won't be part of a new-look Liverpool boardroom despite his investment in the club this summer as changes are on the way at Anfield.
The Amazon co-founder has been part of the consortium that bought a 30 percent stake in the Reds, which includes many famous faces and wealthy investors.
That consortium has been confirmed as 1892 Holdings, named after the date Liverpool was founded, with the process being led by Amit Bhatia. The British entrepreneur is set to take up a role as vice-chairman of the board, leading sporting activities for the investment group, which is now in partnership with FSG.
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It's a move that should prompt a behind-the-scenes shake-up, though the American sports conglomerate still holds the majority stake in the club.
While Bhatia is set to take up a prominent role, the same cannot be said of Bezos, with the fourth-richest man set to take a slightly more passive approach to his investment at Anfield moving forward.
The Guardian reports that the 62-year-old won't take up a seat on the new board, and will instead look on from afar with regard to Liverpool.
While that means far less involvement, Bezos could still make an impact on the club moving forward regarding associated party transactions (APT).
Executive Chairman of Amazon Jeff Bezos attends the 11th Breakthrough Prize ceremony at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California
Jeff Bezos is set to be part of an investment group at Liverpool(Image: (Photo by MICHAEL TRAN/AFP via Getty Images) )
The new group could help grow Liverpool's revenue to among the most competitive in the Premier League, which will be key as new financial regulations are introduced.
Squad Cost Ratio (SCR) has been introduced for the upcoming season and beyond, replacing the Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) that previously dictated the budgets available to clubs.
This change will allow clubs to spend a percentage of their overall revenue, and with Liverpool among the top revenue drivers in the division, there will be a clear advantage in spending capacity.
If Bezos and co. can raise those revenues further, then that capacity to spend will increase further. How that is done is where many have reservations.
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Sponsorship is one area, but so too is ticketing. Liverpool fans protested FSG's decision to increase ticket prices for the coming season, which the owners have since backed down from, and any repeat of that is likely to face similar backlash.
It all sets up an intriguing and uncertain future for the Reds one way or another in the long-term, especially if a full takeover is eventually completed. For now, though, the partnership between FSG and 1892 Holdings is just beginning to take shape.