Can we, the fans, buy the club?

[Gazmo1]

I thought he inherited it? Hardly rocket science!

Fair comment, but I can't see that Sir John Moores would build up an empire worth in excess 750 million when it was sold in 2002 and then let a muppet look after it. Inherited it maybe but money makes money.

Anybody know the full story?

[Tatterdemalion]

I've been reading all the posts on here about the problems with the owners etc and been getting quite worried. I used to dismiss everything thinking that it was all a very clever and elaborate attempt to divert attention from the team (a la Chelski/Mourinho a couple of years ago), but it seems to be going on far too long.

To most of us, its obvious, that we have the best manager in a very long time and an excellent chance of prolonged success if we stick by him (maybe not this year, but we're definitely getting closer). However, if rumours are to be believed the owners do not see it that way. Very worryingly, I have heard Klinsmann and Mourinho have been approached as potential successors.

This, coupled with the rumours of adding debt to the club and backtracking on a truely world class stadium could all point to serious problems.

All of which got me thinking, what could we do to turn this situation around (if rumours do in fact turn out to be true)?

I'm not any sort of financial expert, but could the fans not buy the club? Or at least set up a fund/company to buy the club? There must be millions of supporters worldwide and if each of us invested a small sum (and some of the richer fans invest larger sums - for more shares of course), I'm sure we could build a fund worthy of buying out G+H. I cant remember how much G+H paid for the club, but surely this is possible???No?

Apologies if this has been posted/suggested before.

It isn't an entirely daft idea, but I think you would have two problems.

Firstly the amount of interest such an idea would receive would be disappointingly small in monetary terms compared to how many people would express an interest. Assuming we have around ten million supporters world wide, I estimate we would each need to stump up around £75. This might not sound much, but many of these fans will be in a position where they can't afford to buy the current home shirt, let alone buy out the club. In addition, some fans will not buy into the idea, so the cost per fan who was willing to participate would be far higher - and don't forget, every time the price goes up, some fans would duck out so the price goes up exponentially for every fan unwilling to participate. I reckon the price per fan willing to participate would be in the thousands.

Secondly, and more importantly, we would need to set up some sort of trust company. That needs expertise which might not be in the fan base. It also would require general support of those fans willing to participate as to who the trustees were. The trustees would essentially be the owners, able to hire and fire at will so the level of support they themselves would require would be large. Doubtless fans would be split as to whom should be on the board of trustees. Money people? Well is their heart in the right place? Football people? Well do they know enough about money?

And what would happen if the manager requires money for a signing? The trustees would have to put their hands in the pockets of the trust, which may not have sufficient cash - that would mean appealing to the owners - the fans - who I'm sure would demand to know who the signing is before stumping up the money. That is if they even have the stomach for stumping up more cash.

Unfortunately, whilst it isn't a bad idea, I don't think it is workable for the reasons I have outlined above.

[alunevans]

It did, Ebbfleet (formerly Gravesend & Northfleet) of the Conference.

They're not the only ones (and I don't think they've actually completed buying yet).

There are 3 clubs owned by supporters trusts.

Stockport County
Brentford
Notts County

There were others that had heavy supporter involvement too such as Luton.

[alunevans]

We could at least buy it and give it back to Moores so he can start again with representatives from fans on the board. At least then we can look for worthy investors.

Gaz.

P.S. For those who think Moores is a **** business man should consider you don't get rich like he has by being a ******.

he got rich by being born to the right parents i'm afraid.

i take your point though with regards to buy it and hand it over to someone on the cheap with a 51% ownership by the fans perhaps?

[alunevans]

If 170,000 gave a 100 quid we'd have it

but why should we when others own and control it.

i'm all for supporters trusts personally.

it's hard to have a childlike innocence and excitement anymore when football clubs tend to be owned by asset strippers, and when the teams tend to consist of mercenaries.

and the rest of us pay £36 a match for something that should cost a tenner at best. and why? because the players get paid 50k a week for doing something they'd happily do for £500 a week.

i'd like every club put in the hands of their supporters personally.

the modern game reeks in my view and i don't much like it i'm afraid.

[denny ammo]

When it all goes wrong, do we demand our own resignations and call ourselves cunts? I get enough of that at my real job.

[alunevans]

can't help wondering why democracy is considered so unworkable and controversial

[Gazmo1]

he got rich by being born to the right parents i'm afraid.

i take your point though with regards to buy it and hand it over to someone on the cheap with a 51% ownership by the fans perhaps?

Wasn't it his uncle with the money? I thought Sir John Moores was the guy behind Littlewoods etc.

[alunevans]

Wasn't it his uncle with the money? I thought Sir John Moores was the guy behind Littlewoods etc.

What I meant was that he was born into the right family. He didn't make the dosh himself.

The only difference between Moores being rich and me not being rich is that he was born to his ma and I was born to mine.

Swap that round and I'd have been Chairman of LFC instead.

[Darth Marty]

im seriously drunk here at this stage but I have had anoither thought since I posted earlier, whats to say that this has to be done sooner rather than later?
I mean if a website or suchlike was set up whats to stop people investing some funds on a regularly irregular basis? Like I have a tenner from the pub this friday and think **** the kebab ill buy liverpool.
Wonder how long it would take to reach or surpass the 500mill barrier. Obviously the more the investment the more shares so its obviously worthwhile to the serious investor as well as the regular supporter.

To be honest wouldnt it be worthwhile in doing this regardless of whether it was to buy the club or say 2 superstar players?
If the club said all monies received would go towards 2 superstar players and nothing else then lets do it!!!

[thesilverfoxlfc]

Yes but none of us are Rich enough and Steve Morgan is a ****......maybe Paul Mc willl buy the club rather then giving the money to Heather Mills

[BallBoy]

sad to say that it would actually be easier to set up FC liverpool and use the money to get them into the football league then it would to gain control of the club....

[shanks69]

Wasn't it his uncle with the money? I thought Sir John Moores was the guy behind Littlewoods etc.

littlewoods was set up by sir john moores and his brother(can't remember his name)who was david moores father.

[DaHongDe]

Its amazing how we discussed this a month ago and now its happening!

[Fagan]

They're not the only ones (and I don't think they've actually completed buying yet).

There are 3 clubs owned by supporters trusts.

Stockport County
Brentford
Notts County

There were others that had heavy supporter involvement too such as Luton.

Exeter city was one of the first supporters trusts to take over their club with 3,000 members of which i am one, The club off the pitch is doing very well now and we have a average gate of 4,000.