Rick Parry's grandparents lived a few minutes' walk from Anfield and his formative years were spent along those streets at weekends.
He would become Liverpool's chief executive for 12 years, presiding over that night in Istanbul and only vacating the role once relationships with divisive American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett soured beyond repair.
So it is hardly surprising that Liverpool boyhood supporter Parry has aligned in the brainstorming of Project Big Picture. Manchester United, the other club driving the widescale changes to football's pyramid, are an institution he has always respected if not liked.