Gillett has thrown his weight behind Rick Parry, placing himself in direct opposition to estranged co-owner Tom Hicks, who yesterday wrote to the chief executive demanding his resignation.

Parry's response to Hicks' three-page letter could not have been more emphatic, the club's senior administrator describing the Dallas-based businessman's request as "offensive".

Gillett also wasted little time having his say, declaring: "Rick Parry retains our full support."

The spotlight has fallen on Gillett to broker a deal to end one of the most embarrassing sagas in the club's history.

With Dubai International Capital still waiting patiently in the wings, Hicks is running out of financial options.

But Gillett, with his own agreement to sell to DIC, is in a position of power. Sources expect him to begin talks with Hicks to allow the Texan to make his exit with dignity and his honour in tact.

Hicks, it seems, believes he has an ally against Gillett and Parry in manager Rafael Benitez, a position the Spanish manager clearly feels uncomfortable about.

He called off today's pre-match media conference ahead of Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash with Blackburn, choosing to speak only to the club's own television channel.

Even then, he refused to clarify his position.

"I say to the players and myself, we need to be focused on football," he said. "We have an important game against Blackburn so we want to be concentrated on the game."

A potential rift has been opened after Hicks used Benitez's alleged dissatisfaction with Parry's performance in transfer dealings to attack the chief executive.

Benitez has wisely maintained a public silence over the club's off-field problems in recent months.

But he has suddenly found his words are being used as a stick to beat Parry with.

And all this comes at the end of a week that should still see Liverpool celebrating their tremendous Champions League victory over Arsenal.

The club should also be concentrating on achieving the win against Blackburn that will maintain the gap they hold over neighbours Everton in the battle for qualification for next season's competition.

Parry, who clearly sees himself in a position of strength, has been unequivocal over his own position.

He said in a Sky Sports News interview: "This week I shouldn't be the story, the story should be the team.

"It's offensive to the players, the manager, the fans, in the week when we had another great European triumph there's more dirty linen being washed (in public)."

Parry has been chief executive at Liverpool for a decade and oversaw the takeover of the club by Hicks and Gillett last year.

Since then, the relationship between the co-owners has broken down and the future ownership of the club remains the subject of continual speculation.

Parry, with Hicks unable to force his hand, has vowed to continue working as normal.

He said: "No individual, certainly not me, is bigger than the club. The club will be fine but once again it shows there's a little bit of a lack of unity at the top. I'm just getting on with the job."

Hicks cannot force Parry out without the agreement of Gillett, who also owns 50% of the club, hence this week's letter.

Gillett has further underlined his support for Parry, saying in an interview with the Liverpool Echo: "Rick Parry retains our full support.

"Any decision to remove him would need the approval of the full Liverpool board which, it should be remembered, consists of six people - myself, Foster (Gillett's son), David Moores, Rick himself, Tom Hicks and Tom junior.

"We have not seen the document in question and we were not party to it. We are not able to comment on the detail because we have not seen it. But I would reiterate that Rick retains our full support."