If you could go back in time and choose again...

[Dhav]

DIC's Sameer Al-Ansari recently said in the Telegraph something along the lines of this: "There were rumours that the Sheikh pulled the plug on the deal, well he didn't, it was me. It broke my heart to do it as we were about to buy my dream but Liverpool kept us waiting for so long. There are other rumours about a 7 year sell off, which is totally incorrect and put out to destabalise us. We would never have sold Liverpool. To this day I haven't got over it and never will but we move on"

Al-Ansari was speaking about DIC backing Branson in his £11Billion bid for Northern Rock. The interviewer asked whether the credit crunch would mean DIC pays loads in interest for that investment, Ansari replied "DIC is not effected by the credit markets" -

****ing loaded they must be.

Hmmm. This stuff may be true, it might not. But if any of it is, then it makes me wonder if Parry and Moores didn't just go for the Americans basically just to keep their jobs ie they made the decision for themselves personally and not in the best interests of the club.

[The Glove]

To be fair, DIC are hardly gonna come out and say, 'Yeah, it wouldve been **** with us and we did plan to do a dusty in 7 years' are they? They are bound to say how wonderful life wouldve been with them.

[Neil Young]

Are you having a good time? I said, ARE YOU HAVING A GOOD TIME???

That's better. Let's do this.

One, two, 1-2-3-4...

I don't know why I did the things I did
I don't know why I said the things I said
Pride's like a knife, it can cut deep inside
Words are like weapons, they wound sometimes
I didn't really mean to hurt you
I didn't wanna see you go
I know I made you cry
But baby

If I could turn back time
If I could find a way
I'd take back those words that have hurt you
And you'd stay
If I could reach the stars
I'd give them all to you
Then you'd love me, love me
Like you used to do
If I could turn back

My world was shattered
I was torn apart
Like somebody took a knife
And drove it deep in my heart
When you walked out that door
I swore that I didn't care
But I lost every thing darling then and there
Too strong to tell you I was sorry
Too proud to tell you I was wrong
I know that I was blind, and darling

If I could turn back time
If I could find a way
I'd take back those words that have hurt you
And you'd stay
If I could reach the stars
I'd give them all to you
Then you'd love me, love me
Like you used to do
If I could turn back

Thank you very much.

[Dhav]

To be fair, DIC are hardly gonna come out and say, 'Yeah, it wouldve been **** with us and we did plan to do a dusty in 7 years' are they? They are bound to say how wonderful life wouldve been with them.

Exactly, which is why I am not convinced the the quote that Rashid posted is either genuine or completely honest.

I think we heard at the time (I remember was it Mihir Bose on BBC Sport?) saying that the club procrastinated and pondered on DIC's bid so much because of concerns about their 7 year plan that was leaked in the City - they began to have serious reservations about DIC's intentions.

But who knows what the truth is?

[AFII]

To be fair, DIC are hardly gonna come out and say, 'Yeah, it wouldve been **** with us and we did plan to do a dusty in 7 years' are they? They are bound to say how wonderful life wouldve been with them.

But why go through all that trouble with buying us and then wait seven years until they can make a profit that more or less never will notice in their massive bank account?

That's the key question for me.

[Dhav]

But why go through all that trouble with buying us and then wait seven years until they can make a profit that more or less never will notice in their massive bank account?

That's the key question for me.

I guess we don't know DIC's business plans and what they look to get from their investments.

All I wanted from investment is people in charge who will resepct the traditions of the club, back the manager (Rafa) by giving him enough money to buy first choice targets and not inferior fall-back options, deliver a first rate stadium, and not doing any of this in way which will jeopardise the existence of the club. I
guess it is not out of the question that the yanks will deliver this, but at the mo it does not look good.

[AFII]

I guess we don't know DIC's business plans and what they look to get from their investments.

All I wanted from investment is people in charge who will resepct the traditions of the club, back the manager (Rafa) by giving him enough money to buy first choice targets and not inferior fall-back options, deliver a first rate stadium, and not doing any of this in way which will jeopardise the existence of the club. I
guess it is not out of the question that the yanks will deliver this, but at the mo it does not look good.

[Rashid]

Mihir Bose is Gillett's close mate, he has been trumpetting Gillet for years and even broker the ground share story. He can't be trusted at all.

Ansari - said the 7 year thing is a total lie and wanted to know who circulated it, needless to say it died down.

The club was sold because the two American's offered more money, even Bose admitted this.

[Rashid]

Dubai group preparing £450m offer
By Mark Ogden
Last Updated: 12:57am GMT 08/12/2006

Liverpool complete the formalities of their Champions League group campaign against Galatasaray in the ancient trading city of Istanbul tonight with the ownership of the five-times European champions looking ever more likely to pass into the hands of the Dubai International Capital group (DIC) before they resume their bid for a sixth title in the new year.

Despite a lengthy trail of suitors in recent years, England's most successful club had failed to secure the investment required to meet the chairman David Moores' £170 million valuation, wipe out debts of about £80 million and provide the £200 million needed to build a 60,000-seat stadium at Stanley Park.

However, the prospect of Liverpool becoming the seventh Premiership club to be acquired by a foreign investor increased yesterday with DIC, a state-owned private equity company with links to the al-Maktoum dynasty, confirming that it had started a period of due diligence, with a formal offer in the region of £450 million expected in early January.

Sameer al-Ansari, DIC's chief executive and founder member of DIC, said: "We hope we can agree a deal that will provide us with the opportunity to fund its needs – both on and off the pitch."

Rick Parry, Liverpool's chief executive, said: "This is the latest step on the road of finding the long-term investment the club needs.

"DIC is a potential investor with the significant resources and philosophy we believe could make them an ideal partner. Already they have demonstrated a full understanding of, and respect for, the club's heritage and values.

"We also believe they share our passion for success. DIC believes in investing in the businesses it acquires. This is very important in terms of the proposed new stadium, which is key to plans for the regeneration of the local community. On the pitch, Liverpool remains focused on winning and, here again, this is all about doing a deal that gives us the long-term resources to do that."

Rafael Benitez, the manager, said: "We cannot do anything at this stage other than to focus on the game, but it is always important as a club to have more possibilities and more money."

He led Liverpool to Champions League glory after a penalty shoot-out victory over AC Milan in Istanbul in May 2005, but has made no secret of his frustration at the club's inability to compete with its rivals in the transfer market.

Part of the problem is that their ground, Anfield, is too small to generate substantial transfer revenues, while the club do not have the funds to build a stadium that could bring in such an income.

Previous attempts by the minority shareholder Steve Morgan to invest in the club, and a takeover bid by George Gillett, the American owner of the Montreal Canadiens ice hockey franchise, were rejected by Liverpool. But DIC appear to have convinced Moores and Parry of their ability to return the club to the top of English and European football.

Although the al-Maktoum family, who already have sporting connections as owners of the Godolphin Racing stables, are not directly involved with the proposed takeover it is their money that will be used to purchase the club, their £10 billion fortune is almost double that of Roman Abramovich, the Russian owner of Chelsea.

If DIC complete the take-over, any future al-Maktoum involvement could place Liverpool in a league of their own in the transfer market.

Nostalgia.

[Rashid]

More...

Liverpool in limbo as Dubai group pull out of Anfield deal
By Nick Harris
Published: 01 February 2007

Liverpool's plans to become a debt-free club in a new stadium under the ownership of one of the world's richest men lay in tatters last night after Dubai International Capital sensationally withdrew from advanced talks about a £450m takeover package in disgust at the club's handling of its offer.

That leaves the American entrepreneur, George Gillett Jnr, in pole position to take over at Anfield. The details of his bid have yet to be made public, but Liverpool's current shareholders will certainly make more money personally from selling to him. His willingness to fund a new stadium and his ability to invest in the club or players is less clear.

A Liverpool spokesman said: "There is a process under way with Mr Gillett Jnr, and a decision can be expected in the next few days." The DIC deal was all but signed. DIC and Liverpool had already agreed the wording of a joint statement to announce the takeover next Monday.

But after a meeting between Liverpool's chairman and majority shareholder, David Moores, and a group of other shareholders and board members on Tuesday evening, Liverpool decided to reconsider another offer from Gillett. Having made a verbal agreement with DIC, Liverpool effectively opened the floor for a bidding war, one that may yet go down in history as one of the costliest own goals in the club's history.

DIC was not informed that Tuesday's meeting would discuss Gillett Jnr. This infuriated DIC executives, who tried but failed to find out what was happening, and they made a unilateral decision to pull the plug on Liverpool yesterday.

DIC had offered £4,500 per share for Liverpool's stock, which is 51.1 per cent owned by Moores, in a deal worth £157m to shareholders. In addition it promised to write off the club's £80m debt and build the new £200m Stanley Park stadium, with work due to start as early as March. Moores would have been guaranteed a role as honorary president while the chief executive Rick Parry's job would also have been safe. DIC sources had also made it clear substantial transfer funds would have been made available.

Gillett Jnr has apparently offered £5,000 per share, meaning an extra £17m in total into shareholders' pockets, including an extra £8.5m for Moores. Although he has said previously that he wants to share a stadium with Everton, he has given written assurances that a ground-share is not in his plans. No timetable is in place. No detail about debt-clearance or transfer funds has been made public. Nor has Gillett Jnr made it clear how his bid would be funded. Loading Liverpool with debt, as Malcolm Glazer has done at Manchester United, is an option.

It is understood that Moores came under pressure from "minor shareholders" (who own almost 49 per cent of the club) to consider the bigger cash offer for them.

DIC's chief executive, Sameer Al Ansari, a Liverpool fan, said: "We are very disappointed. DIC is a serious investor with considerable resources. After a huge amount of work, we proposed a deal that would provide the club with the funds it needs."

DIC is an offshoot of the business empire controlled by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, who is worth £10bn and has family assets of double that.

[Rashid]

DIC said they were "only interested in Liverpool" - well lots of PL clubs have been sold and they didn't buy did they? Whereas Gillet first tried to buy Villa according to Doug Ellis and then tried for Newcastle too.

[Red Chilli]

Pointless Rashid.

DIC pulled out, their choice. Moores had the option of selling to the yanks or not selling at all.

[paulcooper4]

I guess we don't know DIC's business plans and what they look to get from their investments.

All I wanted from investment is people in charge who will resepct the traditions of the club, back the manager (Rafa) by giving him enough money to buy first choice targets and not inferior fall-back options, deliver a first rate stadium, and not doing any of this in way which will jeopardise the existence of the club. I
guess it is not out of the question that the yanks will deliver this, but at the mo it does not look good.

[Rashid]

Pointless Rashid.

DIC pulled out, their choice. Moores had the option of selling to the yanks or not selling at all.

They pulled out because Moores agreed to sell one minute then started speaking to Gillett behind their backs.

[Red Chilli]

They pulled out because Moores agreed to sell one minute then started speaking to Gillett behind their backs.

Behind their backs? You do know that there is a legal process to follow when you are subject to a takeover in this country, don't you?

It was Moores duty as chairman to talk to the Americans.
DIC stalled on the deal, Moores talked to other interested parties, DIC pulled out.
Not the actions of a company who's "dream" it was to own LFC.