UEFA president Michel Platini is to present a report to Sports Minister Richard Caborn in Brussels today which is expected to be highly critical of Reds fans and include a dossier of 25 unsavoury incidents involving their supporters in the last four years.

Much of the criticism surrounds the conduct of Liverpool fans in Athens before the Champions League final last month, where fans without tickets or with fakes were able to gain access to the stadium at the expense of genuine ticket-holders and Greek police had to use tear gas in a bid to quell the chaos.

But Hicks lays the blame for the problems at UEFA's door, and asked to respond to Gaillard's damning comments about Liverpool fans, he told Sky Sports News: "I thought the guy from UEFA was a clown for saying that. UEFA did not handle this right at all.

"To give 17,000 tickets to the two teams, particularly knowing Liverpool are going to bring 40,000 fans, is insane.

"It's a classic case of a bureaucrat trying to take the pressure off himself. They didn't handle it right, they didn't have proper ticketing procedures and unfortunately there were counterfeit tickets.

"There were fans who paid their hard-earned money to get their tickets and they get to the stadium and are told there is no more room. Are they (the fans) mad? Sure they're mad."

On a more positive note Hicks is keen to show fans the finished design for the club's new stadium, to be built close to the current Anfield ground in Stanley Park.

"The design is now final, it's spectacular and I can't wait for everybody to see it," he added.

"I think our fans will love it, it's very creative architecture, very contemporary but also unique to Liverpool.

"It is all centred around the Kop. It will be the symphony stage that plays to the symphony hall."

(reopens) Hicks also hinted that there would be more good news for Liverpool supporters on the playing front.

Captain Steven Gerrard and star defender Jamie Carragher signed improved four-year deals yesterday and Hicks believes there will be more new signings - either of new players or existing players signing new contracts - for fans to look forward to.

He added: "I would say to fans 'just be patient', because we're talking to Rafa often.

"Rick Parry is in charge of getting the contracts negotiated and I think the fans will like the outcome. Maybe we'll hear something in the next week."

SPORTING LIFE