A Liverpool supporters' group is planning a march ahead of tomorrow's Premier League match against Manchester United to protest against the way American businessmen George Gillett Jr. and Tom Hicks are running the club.

Local police said yesterday there will be an "appropriate level of security" ahead of the match, suggesting there will be an increase in the number of officers present.

The march to Anfield is being organized by the Spirit of Shankly group, which has published an e-mail address on its Web site asking for information on where Gillet and Hicks are staying.

Merseyside police said they could not discuss the security of individuals or confirm the number of officers set to be on duty at a match that Liverpool has to win to rekindle its fading hopes of winning a first league title for 20 years.

Gillett and Hicks have attracted the ire of fans by loading it with debt in their 2007 buyout.

In an open letter to Gillett and Hicks, Spirit of Shankly said the American pair was not welcome at the club.

"All we care about is our football club, our history and traditions, and our future," the letter read. "To us, you play no part in that future - especially not if we want to be successful and keep moving forward.

"You will leave a black mark on the history of our football club. You have dragged us back, and this season, you have made us stand still, whilst other clubs move forward."

Liverpool finished runner-up to United last season with just two losses in 38 games but, having sold Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid, is currently eighth and on its worst losing streak in 22 years.

Liverpool has lost four straight games in all competitions and has been beaten in four of nine Premier League matches.

Fans blame the club's 245 million-pound ($390 million) debt for manager Rafa Benitez's inability to buy top-class players and fund a new 60,000-seat stadium.

Construction on the new ground was halted in August 2008 because of the global economic downturn.

Hicks, who owns baseball's Texas Rangers and the NHL's Dallas Stars, and Gillett bought Liverpool in 2007 for nearly $290 million, taking on about $73.8 million in liabilities.

Gillett recently sold the NHL's Montreal Canadiens, the Gillett Entertainment Centre and the Bell Centre back to the Molson family for a reported $580 million.