Hogan New Reds Business Boss

Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group have appointed Billy Hogan to help run the financial and business development aspects of the football club.

Hogan was previously managing director at Fenway Sports Management, the sponsorship arm of Fenway Sports Group (FSG) who own both Liverpool and the Boston Red Sox baseball team.

He will be responsible for revenue and business development, as well as club tours and friendlies and Liverpool FC's Soccer Schools.

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre told liverpoolfc.tv, the club's website: "The role of Chief Commercial Officer is a key role for the Club as we continue to grow our commercial activity on a global basis and we were keen to appoint the right candidate who will be able to take the Club to the next level of its development.

"Having worked at a senior level within Fenway Sports Management, Billy has been working alongside LFC for the last 18 months on a number of partnership projects and brings with him a rich pedigree of expertise and resource.

"In many respects this appointment reflects the great spirit of partnership between all of the Fenway Sports Group and LFC."

Hogan said: "I've witnessed first-hand the passion and loyalty fans have for this club and I look forward to working with the staff, partners and future sponsors to grow and develop Liverpool's brand and commercial presence globally to help ensure the long-term growth of this storied club."

The club have also brought in a new corporate relations and communications director in former Sports Illustrated senior editor Jen Chang.

Liverpool recently sacked Anfield great Kenny Dalglish as their manager.

Dalglish, who had returned for a second stint as manager in January last year, paid the price for a dismal season that saw Liverpool finish 37 points behind champions Manchester City.

FSG gave Dalglish more than £100 million ($159m) to spend in the transfer market after he took over from the sacked Roy Hodgson in 2011.

But expensive signings such as Andy Carroll, Stewart Downing and Jordan Henderson largely flopped and Liverpool's eighth-place finish was their worst season-ending position for nearly two decades, with their lowest points tally since 1954.

They defeated second-tier Cardiff City on penalties in the League Cup final but lost 2-1 to Chelsea in the FA Cup final earlier this month.