Looks like we have a new owner

[IrishPaul]

Yah I agree Paul, we will jsut have to get on with things. Nothing we say on here is gonna change a thing, we can al pull our hair out, or what we have left of it, but whats that gonna achieve, nothing, sure we all love LFC, and we can continue to do so no matter who takes over. We are heading in the right direction under Rafa, and for any new investor to get a return, they will need us to be successfull which means investing in players Im really tired of all this investment crap tbh, finding it hard to even read these posts. Cant wait for the derby tomorow

Yep - Bring On The Bitters!!!!!

[IrishPaul]

I`m gonna take the dog for a walk along the river bank now

[lfc4ever]

sense of humour:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,8304-2581687,00.html

Walk on . . . walk on . . . with hoop in your heart

Giles Smith

“Long-time favourites Dubai International Capital made a bitter exit from Liverpool this week to leave American entrepreneur George Gillett Jr on the brink of a £450 million takeover. The shock withdrawal came after the Liverpool board decided that they needed more time to look into the proposal from Gillett, 68, a former owner of the Harlem Globetrotters.” (News report)

From Peter Crouch’s diary, February 17, 2007

Meeting today at Anfield with the Americans. Me, Stevie Gerrard and the gaffer. Quite surprised to be asked along, but can’t hurt to show your face. First impressions very favourable. Lots of stuff said about “taking the franchise forward” and “growing the brand on the Pacific Rim”.

Not really my area, to be honest. But very friendly atmosphere. I even thought the main man, Mr Gillett, took a bit of a shine to me. He was definitely looking at me a lot, smiling and nodding encouragingly. It was a bit hard to tell behind the glasses, but I think he even winked a couple of times.

I was looking to Stevie for his reaction. I knew he had met some of the Dubai boys, when they were in the frame, and had felt that they understood the culture of the club. Plus they seemed up for dropping a bundle on loads of new players and a stadium, so he couldn’t see a problem. Anyway, he seemed to like the Americans, too. Handshakes and smiles all round.

Slightly strange thing at the end, though. As he was showing us out, Mr Gillett grabbed my elbow and said: “Can you bounce-pass?” I must have looked confused. He said: “I’ll bet you got a pretty cute bounce-pass, don’t you?” I just smiled and nodded, as you do, and he roared with laughter, clapped me on the shoulder and shut the door.

February 24

Say what you like about the new regime, it’s certainly freshened up training. And it’s great for me, personally, to find myself at the centre of so much of it. The figure-eight weave offence is coming along well. So is the set-piece routine where Jermaine Pennant runs to the back post with a step ladder, Dirk Kuyt legs it up the ladder and knocks it down to Xabi Alonso and I turn a cartwheel and knock it in with the back of my head. There was a bit of a setback when Dirk slipped on the second rung and did his knee, but it’s only his posterior cruciate ligaments, fortunately, so he should be back before the end of the season.

February 27

Lost 9-0 at Wigan. Disappointing, but obviously some of the new ideas will need time to bed down. Midway through the first half, I’ve gone to the crowd with the bucket of water, except it’s actually full of shredded paper — only I’ve got the wrong bucket, so I’ve ended up soaking this woman in row B and she’s now threatening to sue for distress, and also for ruining a family-size tub of popcorn. Avoidable, maybe. But, in my defence, it’s a lot of buckets to have to think about. I’ll get the hang of it eventually.

March 8

Got sent off in a 6-0 defeat at home to Manchester City. Jamie Carragher has fed me the ball and I’ve tucked it under my shirt and set off up the pitch, running with my knees up high and my hands in the small of my back. It’s something we worked on all week in training and the crowd absolutely lapped it up.

But not Graham Poll, of course. He’s straight over to me with the cards out. Couldn’t believe it when I saw it was red. I said: “For Christ’s sake, Polly. It’s called entertainment, you xxxx.” He just doesn’t get it, though. Never has and never will.

Incidentally, people say the soul went out of Anfield when the Americans bought in. I don’t agree. When the whole of the Kop stands with scarves raised before kick-off and whistles Sweet Georgia Brown, I don’t think there’s anyone who wouldn’t feel the hairs stand up.

March 12

I’ve got off with a token fine and a one-game suspension for the Man City business, but I reckon we’re in for much worse after it kicked off big time in the 16-0 defeat at Sheffield United tonight — mass riot in the technical area, both benches getting stuck in, Lucozade bottles flying everywhere, Neil Warnock heavily involved, it goes without saying. And all for what? Because Rafa Benítez came on the pitch on a bicycle and squirted party string over Phil Jagielka. You’d think some of these people had no sense of humour.

March 18

I was up before the FA today, charged with deliberately switching the official match ball for another ball, identical in outward appearance yet altered as to its physical properties, such that it would bounce in a random and unpredictable manner, causing unsuspecting players to swipe at the air, fall over on their faces, or otherwise look silly.

The club’s lawyer argued that I was merely working in a hallowed comedic tradition that has brought pleasure to millions around the world and was once honoured with its own specially syndicated Hanna-Barbera cartoon series. Even so, the FA has thrown the book at me: five-match ban and a £300,000 fine. The gaffer’s incensed. Reckons they’re punishing me on account of my reputation. I think he’s got a point.

April 14

Lost 32-0 at Blackburn and dropped into the relegation zone. Got summoned to see Mr Gillett. Found him looking tired and pale, staring mournfully at the framed pictures on his wall.

“Know who this guy is?” he asked me. I didn’t. “That’s Fred ‘Curly’ Neal,” Mr Gillett said. “Best dribbler in the history of the Harlem Globetrotters. Know why they called him Curly?” I took a stab. “Because he’s bald?” “Correct!” At this point, Mr Gillett went into a long, helpless laughing jag, not fully recovering until he had taken out a handkerchief and blown his nose.

He then pointed to another of the pictures. “That’s Reece ‘Goose’ Tatum. The Goose had a hook shot so good, they retired his goddamn shirt. And this one? Wilt Chamberlain. The legendary Wilt. These guys were funny! Show me our Meadowlark Lemon, our Robert ‘Showboat’ Hall. Where is our William ‘Pop’ Gates, our Junius Kellogg?”

I said: “Steve Finnan does quite a good impression of the ladies from Little Britain.” Mr Gillett ignored me.

“You want to know about winning? One time, the Globetrotters had a 2,495-game winning streak. The night it ended, back in ’71, against the New Jersey Reds — unforgettable. It was like laughter itself had stopped. You know which comedy great was made an honorary Globetrotter? I’ll tell you who. Bob Hope.”

I said: “We’ve got Jimmy Tarbuck, though.” Mr Gillett looked at me coldly. Then his face kind of melted and tears came into his eyes and he let out the biggest sigh I’ve ever heard. “I had such high hopes for you, Crouchy.” Then he went and sat back at his desk with his head in his hands. “Just go,” he said.

August 4

Optimistic about the new season. Yes, it’s Championship football, but we’ve just got to get on with it and come back stronger. And with the new arena going up, this is an exciting time to be around Liverpool. Plus the owners have delivered on their promise to attract top talent to the club, using the summer window to bring in Michael “Wild Thing” Wilson, who holds the record for a vertical slamdunk (12 feet!).

Obviously, his arrival puts me under a bit of pressure, personally, but I have vowed to stay and fight for my place. You’ve got to, haven’t you?

[Los Rojos]

I know it's meant to be humorous but in general, Giles Smith is a **** when it come to LFC matters.

[Los Rojos]

OK - this deal looks like it's happening.

[carrsim]

this is how i see the DD process

DIC have done it for a few months and still wanted to go ahead, indicating that there is nothign so untoward or hidden problems that they didn't want to bid.

you may remember at onf of the AGMs Morgan was going on about things that the fans didn't know and that was where the idea of about 70-80m worht of debt came out in public.

that debt was a problem for Morgan because to buy liverpool he had to sort that out and he hasn't got that kind of cash on top of stadium money, buying out his worst enemy and new players for rafa.

presumably as we have had a few good seasons that 70-80m hasn't got too much bigger- certainly not for the billionaires from Dubai.

So DIC did extensive DD and found that 4500 a share was a good offer. Gillet and his new found Billionaire partner act on classic USA business principles "you snooze, you lose" and come in with 5000, presumably based on the fact that everything is manageable as between them they have a sh&tload of cash. not as much as Dubai but still in the 9 Zeroes category

Gillet on his own has about £500m so its no doubt that DIC seemed more attractive in comparison at first, but once Gillet came back with Hicks, no groundshare promise (non enforceable but i think they know there'd be a fan outcry) and a better offer its no surprise that Gillet moved into pole position.

As for not seeing all the details of contracts etc that "proper" DD would have allowed. These guys run very big sport organisations which have much bigger budgets and turnovers than any football club in England (chelsea doesn't count, as its a Russian money launderer not a football club)
so they probaly figure get in there and close the deal while teh chance is there and then get through all that stuff.

All they need to worry about is the downpayment for the stadium to start i nMarch (and i bet thats what they concentrated on for the 3 days) as the rest can wait til the close season.

the common sense approach would be as little disruption as possible right now as we are on arun on the pitch that will deliver the most welcome and **** off we're liverpool league title in our history.

do i like Gillet or hicks? they are big business, bush backing Americans so i'd say i doubt it. but then i'd probably disagree politically and morally with every big businessman on earth, so in the end as long as they build our stadium, help rafa and respect what we're about as they take their cut of the huge amounts of TV money around then thats about the best we can hope for
in my opinion

[lfc4ever]

http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/news/article2211582.ece

Business 'wizard' to cast Anfield spell

By Nick Harris

Published: 03 February 2007

If Tom Hicks can do for Liverpool what he did for George W Bush, fans of the club might yet come to embrace American ownership.

First Hicks made Bush rich, a multimillionaire, in fact. Then he helped to make him President of the United States. He has since helped Bush to retain his role as the most powerful man in the world through fundraising.

The pair's relationship has not been without controversy (more of which later) and some left-leaning red Scousers might not all embrace a "neocon" Republican in charge at Anfield, or Stanley Park, or the Weetabix Dome Bowl or whatever the new stadium will be called. But there is no doubt that Hicks is one influential, well-connected "player".

Hicks, 60, and his fellow American sports tycoon, George Gillett Jnr, 68, could take control of Liverpool as early as next week if their proposed £470m takeover unfolds as they expect. They have already held face-to-face secret talks this week with Liverpool's chairman, David Moores, and chief executive, Rick Parry, about their vision for the club, in which they will take 50-50 ownership.

It is understood that Hicks and Gillett will pay for the club's shares with cash. The pair will say nothing for now in public about the structure of their deal, but their advisors are keen to stress in private that they do not intend to load the club with debt, as the Glazer family has done at Manchester United.

Hicks has a reputation in America as "the leverage wizard", so called because of his long-standing tactic of buying firms with loans, and using the new asset as collateral. But sources close to him claim that any borrowing for a new stadium (£215m), debt-clearance (£80m) or transfer funds (undisclosed and unconfirmed) will "not be secured on the assets of the club".

Both men are rich, but neither is in Roman Abramovich's league. Gillett, who owns the NHL's Montreal Canadiens, is thought to be worth around £440m, a fortune amassed since a $1bn bankruptcy in 1992. Hicks, who owns the NHL's Dallas Stars and the Texas Rangers baseball franchise, is a dollar billionaire, but is not hugely wealthier than Gillett. They know each other through the NHL, and from working together in meat production. Both have a broad portfolio of business interests including media and sport. Gillett has a penchant for ski resorts.

Hicks, who founded the firm that owns Weetabix, has a fondness for property. His experience in stadium construction is attractive to Liverpool. The real estate potential at Anfield, post-move, attracts him.

Hicks first became close to Bush, a fellow Texan, when he funded Bush's campaign to become Texas governor in 1994. Hicks had previously funded the Democratic incumbent, Ann Richards, but he backed Bush more heavily and has continued to do so since. Bush was duly elected in 1994, and in 1995 Hicks, a well-known "deal maker", successfully lobbied Bush and the Texas legislature to form a private company at Hicks' alma mater, the University of Texas, as a vehicle to invest UoT funds. Thus the University of Texas Investment Management Company was formed. Hicks became chairman and oversaw the investment of billions of dollars of assets in various ventures.

It was later revealed that up to $1bn had been committed to ventures run by associates and friends of Hicks, Bush or major Republican donors. It was not illegal, merely very controversial.

Bush only became very rich in 1998, when he sold a 12 per cent holding in the Texas Rangers, bought in 1989 for $606,000, to Hicks, for $15m.

[TheStig]

Just a point, Hicks has taken the Dallas Stars to the Stanley Cup, and they've only missed the play offs once or twice in 10 years, so he's been successful in sport.

[lfc4ever]

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2004961,00.html

Gillett flies in to seal £470m Liverpool deal

Dominic Fifield
Saturday February 3, 2007
The Guardian

Liverpool's prospective new American owners, George Gillett Jr and Tom Hicks, will fly to Merseyside on Monday to submit a formal bid worth about £470m for the Premiership club.

The club's chairman, David Moores, is expected to convene a board meeting that day to confirm his commitment to the sports franchise owners' offer, accepting some £88m for his 51.6% shareholding in the club. Hicks and Gillett are expected to hold a press conference confirming that their bid has been accepted by the majority shareholder on Tuesday, with the £5,000-per-share offer then presented to shareholders. Liverpool hope the takeover will be resolved in the next few weeks.

The club's chef executive, Rick Parry, who is likely to retain that role under the new owners, confirmed yesterday that Hicks' involvement in the bid - he and Gillett have gone 50-50 to lodge the offer - has made the Americans an enticing opportunity. "While we have always had a good relationship with George Gillett, it's clear the involvement of Tom Hicks adds another dimension and considerable strength to the bid," he said.

Javier Mascherano's career in England remains in limbo after the Premier League confirmed that it had still to ratify the Argentinian's registration as a Liverpool player after his loan move from West Ham. Rafael Benítez had hoped to hand Mascherano a debut in this lunchtime's 205th Merseyside derby but the Premier League indicated that it wanted to scrutinise the deal. The midfielder was jointly owned by investors when he played for Corinthians in Brazil. The Premier League, whose rules stipulate that a player must not be part-owned by a "third party", maintains that his transfer to West Ham did not contravene any of its rules, but it will need to be equally certain before it rubber-stamps his move to Anfield.