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Ian Ayre is in relaxed mood, especially considering he is soon to give a speech in front of hundreds of people.

There's a drink in his hand and a smile on his face as, stood in a side corridor at St George's Hall, the former chief executive of Liverpool speaks to the ECHO for the first time since his departure from Anfield.

Ayre has flown in specifically to give this lecture, part of the Roscoe series arranged by Liverpool John Moores University. Its title, 'Football – Past, present and future', is a predictable one.

“It was the only thing I could think of to speak about!” he jokes. “It's all I know.”

In it, he will answer questions on topics as diverse as Brexit, Dele Alli, women's football and illegal streaming of matches. He will offer insight into the workings of the media and the transfer market, and discuss the rampant commercialisation of the sport. Fan of him or not, it makes for an interesting evening.

Ayre could have been forgiven for feeling a little distracted at present. After all his new club, 1860 Munich, are in the midst of a more than challenging period. Defeat to Kaiserslautern on April 21 saw them drop to third bottom of the 2.Bundesliga.

Remain there, and they will face a relegation play-off. Drop further and Ayre will be starting his first full season in the third tier of German football. Welcome to Bavaria!

Ayre insists he will remain at the club even in the event of relegation, but knows that 1860's next fixture, at high-flying Dynamo Dresden on Friday, could be pivotal.

Still, he is enthusiastic when discussing his new role as 'geschäftsführer' (managing director) of the fallen giants.

“It's been great,” he says, having started in Germany at the end of March. “Obviously it's a big difference for me after 10 years at Liverpool. But it's a fantastic club, a great city to live in, great people, hugely welcoming.”

Ayre's exit from Liverpool in February came after 10 years in which he had served as the club's commercial director, managing director and finally chief executive, often acting as the public face of club owners Fenway Sports Group.

His time at Anfield had its troubles. There was a poorly-managed situation regarding ticket price increases in early 2016 for starters. Ayre was also involved in the drama of the club's High Court battle with former owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks in 2010.

Along the way there were also criticisms of the club regarding transfer dealings, investment and the occasional PR blunder.

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A lifelong Red, Ayre insists he left Merseyside satisfied with what he had achieved.

“For me, I always like to set myself big objectives,” he said.

“For Liverpool, when I arrived in 2007 there were three key objectives. One was to transform the business side, which as a fan I had felt was some way behind our big competitors, and missing some big opportunities.

“I felt that finding some kind of solution to the stadium issue was important, as well as returning the football side to the top end of the Premier League. I felt we achieved all of those in different forms.

“The business is transformed, the stadium has a great new addition to it and I am sure there is more to come, and in terms of the team, we are back up there at the top end with a world-class coach and some fantastic players.

“That's the hardest part, the football side, and also the part that as chief executive you can have the least impact on overall.

“I felt my time there was good, I felt that I delivered on my personal objectives, and I am absolutely certain that I left the football club in much better shape than when I started.”

He says he was not involved in the process which eventually saw Peter Moore named as his successor as chief executive, but that he wishes the 62-year-old well in his new role, which will begin in June.

And while Ayre is clearly aware of some fans' growing sense of unease surrounding the direction of the club under FSG – he admits during his lecture that social media, fansites and the press are monitored daily by the club – he is also quick to defend the Americans.

“I think they're fantastic owners,” he says. “Their decision and direction to try and find a solution to stay at Anfield was a key landmark in their ownership.

“Anfield is the spiritual home of the football club we all love, what better solution than one which keeps us there?

“They have a great understanding of what makes this club special, they are committed to the values of a club and they are the important things you want to see in the owners of a football club.”

Ayre will repeat during his lecture that he will be surprised if FSG chose not to proceed with further re-development at Anfield, and says that the opening of the new Main Stand last September represents one of his proudest moments from his decade at the club.

“It's a huge legacy to leave,” he says. “To see it from start to finish, and to know that I can always come back and look at it and remind myself that I played a part.

“As much as I feel very proud of it, it was testament to the work of so many people who did so much work. I have a lot of great moments from my 10 years, but that would be one of them, most definitely.”

As for the future, well there's German to learn for starters - “nicht so gut!” is his reply when asked how that's going so far – and a new club, new country and new footballing culture to get his head around.

Daunting?

“I've always felt that I needed to challenge myself at certain periods in my life,” he insists. “I felt as though I had achieved the objectives I set myself at Liverpool when I came, and it was time for a new challenge.

“I didn't particularly know what that challenge would be, but it came together. I met the owner of 1860 (the controversial Jordanian Hasan Abdullah Ismaik) he was hugely important in convincing me that he had the right ambition and the right heart for the club.

“It is a great, historic club, the same as Liverpool. Okay, it's a different history, a different club, and the scale of the two clubs is different, but they are the same challenges. I'm enjoying it there for now...”

A pause, a grin and then the pay-off.

“... but ask me again in a year!”