Hicks "wants to sell up"

[Johnny]

Good points Jonny, and I 'm nervous too.

[Johnny]

There is an article in the Mirror which mentions that the DIC group might be interested in investing in us if Hicks can be persuaded to sell his share of liverpool BUT the Sheikh is waiting for the green light from Liverpool fans.

Normally i would just ignore stuff like this but this is a follow up story from yesterday and even they would not print bullsh*t stories 2 days on the spin. There might just be something in this.

My question is how would you feel if the DIC did decide to come back and what benefits over the current owners would they bring to us - apart from the obvious financial backing.

The possisble communication problem between Gillette,The Saudi`s and Rafa would worry me.

Three different nationalaities in three different time zones with added language problems cannot be a good idea.



I`d rather see either 100% ownership from the USA or Saudi Aribia but not 50% in each country.

[slimbimjim]

Having half our Club owned by an American and the other half owned by Saudi`s can only lead to bigger communication problems.Video conferencing from every corner off the world,time differences and cultural differences do not sound like a viable alternative.
Either Hicks sells his shares (to Kraft for instance) or both Yanks sell to the Saudi`s.Anything else can only lead to more problems.


If the Saudi`s came in with silly money would Gillette still own 50% of the club while not contributing 50% off the transfer cash?
So many questions will be asked of our club in the next few months,I`m quiet apprehensive.

I do believe that DIC is from Dubai and not Saudi Arabia.

Personally I hope we don't have a mega rich benefactor as it will invalidate every comment about Chelsea buying the league title.

Funding a stadium and a few good players is one thing but buying a whole new team is quite another. I like Rafa's system of buying and selling. He runs it like an investment company, investing in 10 players and selling the ok ones and keeping the best.

CM is no fun with the cheats enabled!

[Skillz]

There is an article in the Mirror which mentions that the DIC group might be interested in investing in us if Hicks can be persuaded to sell his share of liverpool BUT the Sheikh is waiting for the green light from Liverpool fans.

Normally i would just ignore stuff like this but this is a follow up story from yesterday and even they would not print bullsh*t stories 2 days on the spin. There might just be something in this.

My question is how would you feel if the DIC did decide to come back and what benefits over the current owners would they bring to us - apart from the obvious financial backing.

I must admit this seems strange. These articles in the Mirror come across as a bit odd. Are they (DIC) planting them in an effort to come in over the Yanks?

[kop-al-74]

Depends if they were to buy the club out or just hicks's share.I can't imagine they would want to be joint owners and if that were the case i really can't see how an American/Arabic jointly owned english instituition would be run without ego's and power struggles not being an issue.

The idea,if you think of it would be great if it was an ideal world as Gillette would raise our profile stateside and DIC would generate and promote us in the asian market.

Potentially,the possibilitys would be endless if both parties genuinly had the clubs best interest at heart,but i really feel that the harsh reality of the matter is they would both be in it to maximise profits therefore that wouldn't be the case.

[AFII]

I must admit this seems strange. These articles in the Mirror come across as a bit odd. Are they (DIC) planting them in an effort to come in over the Yanks?

Could be the reason.

I think DIC learnt a lot from the takeover saga. They sat back and didn't use the media that much that time, probably overconfident and didn't thought that anyone would better their bid.

I doubt that they would do the same mistake if they would try to buy the club again.

[wildman]

if DIC got in Gillett would have to sell, I doubt very much they'd only take 50%

[The Preacher]

The possisble communication problem between Gillette,The Saudi`s and Rafa would worry me.

Three different nationalaities in three different time zones with added language problems cannot be a good idea.



I`d rather see either 100% ownership from the USA or Saudi Aribia but not 50% in each country.

I think that if DIC came back in they would buy out gilette's shares too. I cant see an establishment of that size and financial clout share the club with a significantly smaller partner.

When DIC talked about buying us out I think Samir Al Ansari would have come across to Merseyside and been based here permanently so in terms of running the club i think things would have been ok.

[Darth Marty]

Its funny how quickly things can change isnt it? 10 Days ago I was happy with our progress, happy with the yanks, happy in general. Now due to all the press bollocks I cant help but think "what if". The arabs came back in, the yanks sack our best manager in decades, we have an exodus of players.

Now the sensible part of me thinks all of these issues have been sorted out and life goes on as it was.

But I cant help but think of the Mourinho saga...that went on and on until eventually Chelseas most succesful manager ever was dismissed.
It beggers belief and I just hope that doesnt happen here.

The arabs definitely hold appeal in my eyes and I do think theres some truth in Hicks becoming disillusioned with us, probably financial reasons but still, its far too early to have owners who dont want to be sticking around.

2008.......interesting year methinks............

[The Preacher]

Depends if they were to buy the club out or just hicks's share.I can't imagine they would want to be joint owners and if that were the case i really can't see how an American/Arabic jointly owned english instituition would be run without ego's and power struggles not being an issue.

The idea,if you think of it would be great if it was an ideal world as Gillette would raise our profile stateside and DIC would generate and promote us in the asian market.
Potentially,the possibilitys would be endless if both parties genuinly had the clubs best interest at heart,but i really feel that the harsh reality of the matter is they would both be in it to maximise profits therefore that wouldn't be the case.

what a good idea - also the south american latino market

[spud_gun]

I very much doubt DIC will be become involved with us again. The simple reason being they'll have to pay X amount more this time around than they would have done 6 months ago. Coupled with the increasing cost of the stadium and the turbulence in the world financial markets it may not be seen as an attractive an investment it was 6 months ago.

[The Preacher]

I very much doubt DIC will be become involved with us again. The simple reason being they'll have to pay X amount more this time around than they would have done 6 months ago. Coupled with the increasing cost of the stadium and the turbulence in the world financial markets it may not be seen as an attractive an investment it was 6 months ago.

But the stadium hasnt been built yet so in real terms DIC would not have to pay for any fixed asset bar what's already there. All we have is a plan and permission to build. There may be some premium but I dont think for one second that DIC with their relationship with the british government could not have gotten planning permission for whatever stadium design they wanted.

[AFII]

I very much doubt DIC will be become involved with us again. The simple reason being they'll have to pay X amount more this time around than they would have done 6 months ago. Coupled with the increasing cost of the stadium and the turbulence in the world financial markets it may not be seen as an attractive an investment it was 6 months ago.

If DIC want something they usually get it. It may take some time but in the end they usually get what they want.

Who knows if they will try again but the real winners so far in all the mess the last week are Rafa and DIC.

[kop-al-74]

I would personally welcome a total DIC buyout.I feel they would be better equipped to run a football club with the traditions of Liverpool.

This isn't just any old football club,this is Liverpool,among the top 5 most famous football clubs in the world.

We really need owners who understand football and i believe DIC have an advantage over the Americans in that department.

[mick the click]

Hi, 1st post.

My take on it is...

i) Rafa isn't dumb. He knew exactly what he was doing when he "made a mistake" & went public with the transfer shenanigans / backroom arguments. He went public and strengthened his hand in doing so. Fire him now and Hicks/Gillett/Parry cannot look like anything other than mercenaries. Rafa called for fan support and got it 10 fold. Good man....

ii) Hicks/Gillette/Investment. None of us know what is really going on. Credit crunch is hitting every big financial deal. Essentially its more expensive to borrow money whether you are a multi-billionaire or not. Personally I'd love some oil money having seen what money from Dubai has done for Godolfin / brand Dubai. Saying that I don't know one way or the other whether either/both of the Americans want to see Liverpool succeed or whether they purely want a profit from the deal. If they sack Rafa its clearly not about the club.

iii) How unbelievable is Fernando Torres. Wow...

iv) I think we'll win the league this year. 2nd place if we win our game in hand having gone through a crap spell & loads of injuries. Everyone basically fit or nearly fit now.

Benitez stays, we win imo

Greetings

I only know that Torres is good news - the rest we can speculate on till we're...er...blue in the face, and many of us have done just that, ad nauseam. Weird times.