Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry insists the club will always take priority over England.

This follows Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson's claim that the country's top clubs were hindering the international structure by importing too many foreign players.

Parry, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek, claimed Liverpool's fans cared about the club first and England second and their focus would remain on bringing success to Anfield.

But Parry also maintained that the club's investment in its youth academy would continue.

Parry declared: "From our perspective, our target is winning trophies.

"Our supporters care about Liverpool first and England second and our job and focus is to bring glory to Liverpool.

"But at the same time we have invested as much, if not more, than just about any other club on our academy.

"We are still committed to the process. We will still continue to do our thing to develop young English players, we are very committed to that but the balance for us has to be winning things first."

Liverpool concluded a takeover deal with American tycoons George Gillett and Tom Hicks this week.

The pair will become co-chairmen with Parry left to run the club and Liverpool chairman David Moores becoming an honorary life-president.

The tycoons beat off competition from Dubai International Capital and are believed to have guaranteed to invest more than £200 million in the club.

Parry admitted the conclusion of the deal was a huge relief and revealed that work on the new stadium at Stanley Park would be the first tangible signs oftheir financial muscle and expertise.

Parry said: "It is difficult to focus on the long-term plan when the whole issue of ownership and future direction is uncertain, so it is a huge relief.

"The debate was not on money at any stage it was about passion, it was about excitement and winning trophies, which for every Liverpool supporter, for everybody associated with the club, winning trophies is the only thing we think about."