Liverpool debt dispute forces Americans to consider sale

[AFII]

no comment

Probably the nicest thing you have ever said about me

[Dhav]

They already have Ian Cotton on board

"We can only say 'no comment' at this stage.", there's at least 7 words more than necessasry in that statement. So it's certainly not Ian Cotton.

[Jayesh87]

[JohnDoe]

I second that.

AFII gets much stick, but he is a very valuable contributor to EST.

I concur

[bazza76]

Hicks' statement had reverberated all day around Anfield where there is a feeling of bafflement at the highest level as to why Hicks had elected to go public on his California meeting with Klinsmann. The banners at the Anfield Road End expressed the fans' feelings: "Dubai SOS, Yanks Out" read one, a plea which might conceivably be answered if the Dubai Investment Company's daily conversations with Anfield yield results.

http://sport.independent.co.uk/footb...cle3342277.ece

Cheers for the info AF, I hope Dubai really start putting the pressure on G & H.

[bazza76]

http://www.thisisanfield.com/pics/yanks.jpg

http://www.thisisanfield.com/wp-content/yanks1.jpg

Was Foster there yesterday to see these banners?

[dawmdt]

The businessmen want to put the new debt directly on to Liverpool's books, guaranteed, crucially, against club assets, not their own.

They own the club 100% therefore it is one of their assets. Make's no difference to the club's security, only to the accountants, whether it's on our books or not. The club will still be the asset used to secure the loan

[Rocket]

They own the club 100% therefore it is one of their assets. Make's no difference to the club's security, only to the accountants, whether it's on our books or not. The club will still be the asset used to secure the loan

exactly, the interest charge will still be the same in the accounts

[dawmdt]

1. Wachovia share price has fallen by a third in the period since they were approached to refinance the Texan (spits) deal;

2. Wachovia are announcing their 3rd quarter results this week.... expected to be very gloomy....

Roll on the subprime credit crisis in good ol freemarket USA.

Look out also for how the dollar goes in coming days.

Hateful I know, but the collapse of USA moneymarkets gives us our best chance of avoiding the mess to come.

This is deluded. Anyone with stacks of money is going to be heavily invested and reliant on the US economy (still the world's biggest) either directly or indirectly. DIC and any other multi-billion investment vehicle included.

General recession hits the consumer also which lowers spending by the fans on the club, companies start to pinch their advertising and sponsorship budgets which lowers income.

At a time when we want multi-million pound investments, building new stadiums and spending tens of millions on players, the last thing we need is the start of a global recession.

[Shaggy]

Jan 16 2008

by David Prentice, Liverpool Echo

 
LIKE it or loathe it, football is a business. So let's use a little retail speak which should be recognisable on both sides of the Atlantic.

The customer is king: And for the second time in barely seven weeks last night, the customers expected to turn Tom Hicks and George Gillett's investment into big bucks at Liverpool Football Club spoke loudly and clearly.

When Porto came to Anfield in November, Rafael Benitez received a strident and stirring endorsement of his managerial skills.

His position had been threatened, and the fans made their point eloquently.
But last night the mood had shifted.

When Hicks and Gillett arrived at Anfield in a flurry of smiles, handshakes and Liverpool-crested cowboy boots, George said he liked to sit among the supporters to gauge the fan experience - and not to be surprised if he popped up on the Kop.
He'd be advised to abandon such experiments for now.

The Kop is a usually reliable barometer of public opinion among Liverpool fans.

And while the chant was by no means universal, it was loud enough, frequent enough and widespread enough to be clearly heard: "You're not Liverpool fans. Liverpool Football Club . . . It's in the wrong hands."

There was another, less vocal chant, which cannot be repeated because of sensitive readers and an even more sensitive lawyer. But let's just say Tom and George were accused of being economical with the truth.

Then there were the banners.

"Thanks Yanks. No More Friendly Fire" and "Dubai SOS - Yanks Out" were just two.
The natives are restless - and it's easy to understand why.

Liverpool has never washed its dirty linen in public.

Liverpool managers aren't sacked, they always graciously step down in acknowledgement that it's for the greater good. Cheesy, maybe, but that's the way they do it. Heck, Gerard Houllier even staged a press conference to say his thank yous and goodbyes.

It's indicative of a football club which has always done things the right and proper way.
But this week's events go a little deeper than the possibility of a very popular manager being sacked.

It's a matter of common decency.

And the Kop, rightly or wrongly, holds itself up as an arbiter of fair play.
 
If Benfica come to Anfield and deservedly knock Liverpool out of the European Cup, they're warmly applauded.

A tradition for applauding visiting goalkeepers originated here on Merseyside, while last night a tribute was paid to the magnificent support Luton received from their travelling fans.

So when absentee landlords offer another man the manager's job - insurance policy or not - it offends their sense of fair play.

Whether you believe Benitez is the man to deliver the League title to Anfield or not, you don't treat him the way big, vulgar city institutions like Tottenham treat their managers.

And, if the co-owners are being so cavalier with the future of a trusted and admired club servant, it adds to the growing sense of unease at reports of a colossal debt being saddled on the club some time soon.

Hicks and Gillett need a charm offensive some time soon.

Fans often disagree with events in the boardroom, but this is the first time in living memory that fans have openly mutinied with club custodians.

And a divided club is not a strong football club.

The events off the pitch threatened to overshadow Jamie Carragher's big night.
Liverpool's legend of 500 matches was granted a guard of honour as he stepped onto the turf with son James, but the resounding chant which reverberated around Anfield was "Ra-fa Benitez."

As Luton defended doggedly and desperately, however, attention switched to matters on the pitch.

And while Carragher produced his usual array of blocks, interceptions and clearances - not to mention one better Ryan Babel pass away from a clear run on goal - Carra's best pal did his best to grab the limelight.

What Steven Gerrard offered with one hand - he took away with the other.

Gerrard handed over the captain's armband for the night, then demanded the spotlight with a hat-trick.

Results of football matches will always dictate the mood of football fans, but last night there was an animated sub-plot.

The customer is king - and it's time the co-owners started listening.

[kris90210]

You see...how would an ex player know? Spying on G+H is he?

I never quite understand the cynicism directed at formers players' 'inside knowledge'. A hell of a lot of them are still involved with the club in some capacity. And christ, I would imagine a lot of them would be on speaking terms with Moores - so thats a direct link there.

Lawro and Smith both write for the echo and as such will know Barrett. Barrett has private meetings with Rafa once a week, and will no doubt be privvy to 'off the record' info.

Plus I dont know why former players would go around making stuff up - its not like they would be trying to impress anyone with their 'insider knowledge'.

Im not saying that everything that comes from former players is going to be accurate but that doesnt mean that what they say doesnt hold at least SOME water.

[Parm]

Lack of knowledge forces papers to speculate.

very true

[yukpo]

**** OFF

[Pablo]

very true

Yes but I think the problem here is that we have given the press too much information to go on already. The sooner we shut the flood gates to the press the better.

P.S. Can people please not post swearing in giant letters. Some of us are trying to read this in work!

[lfc1394]

Said weeks ago that Moores is having Kittens and Parry is out of his depth. I'm some fantasist idiot though

Tom, how dare you be right? Disgusting behaviour, you should only bare good news FFS.

Can you Ban yourself please