Dubai International to make bid for Liverpool FC

[el matador]

stupidly I only realised today that a mate of mine (who's also a mad liverpool fan) works for RBS so I rang him and asked him about the situation.

He said that RBS were definitely involved in the arrangement for the loan and that yes there were some last minute issues. He is not directly involved in the deal and neither is he allowed to ask questions about this as this is handled by a certain team and nobody from that team is talking.

Its only what he's heard - but he does work there. As of 5.00pm today those issues had not yet been resolved.

I hope these two get shafted by RBS and then the club is sold onto DIC.

[Joe King]

Finally caught up with this thread, but still non the wiser over what will happen.

The only thing that seems certain to me is that DIC will bid for the club if G+H can't afford or don't want the re structure of the loan.

I have seen various people say that G+H will definitely get the loan sorted. I have then seen various people say that this would be better for LFC, without really explaining why.

The real key for me is about a possible profit for G+H. I can't see them selling without a profit, but then I can't see why DIC would pay over the odds for the club. They could have bought the club last year at a reasonable price. Can someone explain why they didn't bother sticking it out then? And why return to the table? Guess we'll find out if they manage to take over.

Another thing is this: Whilst I spport the barracking of our owners, I don't know what good it will do. After the reception the Glaziers got in Manchester, I doubt G+H thought it would be plain sailing. Another is that at least Gillet has been abused by fans before, at the Montreal Canadiens. I can tell you, the Canadiens were not happy about a Yank taking over. They value their traditions like us. But they eventually quit their complaining, as did the Mancs.

I'm not sure we will quit the complaining, but I doubt G+H will see it that way. I can't see us being able to bully them out by these tactics. Still, it's all we can do.

Difference between the Mancs and us is that Glazers said it upfront that he was going to fill the club with debt.

Anyway, the comparison between ourselves and the Mancs is silly. In terms of marketing, we won't match them in a very long time. They have always made more money than us.

The Canadiens protest was to not allow Gillette to take over like the Scum take over. As fans, we were generally happy with what was said and thought it was the way forward but we want them out. Its a different type of protest.

[wildman]

They value their traditions like us. But they eventually quit their complaining, as did the Mancs.

[/QUOTE]

Incorrect the mancs are still at it now, only last week or so gills house got painted red and traitor written everywhere

[AFII]

G&H have said for months that they are confident that they will get the loan. Nothing have really changed from that point of view.

[Jayesh87]

G&H have said for months that they are confident that they will get the loan. Nothing have really changed from that point of view.

BBC are normally spot on tho Tommy.

[DannyMan2006]

They value their traditions like us. But they eventually quit their complaining, as did the Mancs.

Incorrect the mancs are still at it now, only last week or so gills house got painted red and traitor written everywhere[/QUOTE]

But even with this, there is still no rush to sell the Mancs. Nor will there ever be. Because the majority of fans are fair weather types. Couple of wins here and a star player there and everything is forgotten by most. Despite all the rubbish people spout most are glory spporters are heart.

Again, I'm not gonna tar are club with that brush, though there are some of course.

On a completely unrelated positive post, Paul Anderson scored a cracker for Swansea tonight.

[kurtangle01]

G&H have said for months that they are confident that they will get the loan. Nothing have really changed from that point of view.

BBC are normally spot on tho Tommy.

I agree.

[sonsofthedesert]

G&H have said for months that they are confident that they will get the loan. Nothing have really changed from that point of view.

The one thing that gives me hope. The joke is that this is the same deal that has been talked about since November but they still haven't signed, why?

[Joe King]

BBC are normally spot on tho Tommy.

Like with the takeover being done this week?

Its speculation

[DannyMan2006]

BBC are normally spot on tho Tommy.

BBC are reporting that G+H have said they are confident of completing the deal.

BBC have not said we are confident that G+H will complete the deal.

[Jayesh87]

Like with the takeover being done this week?

Its speculation

They never said that!

All they have ever said that DIC are preparing a bid.

[kurtangle01]

Like with the takeover being done this week?

Its speculation

They never said anything of the osrt. All they said was that a bid was being prepared and would be put to H&G this week.

[Joe King]

They never said that!

All they have ever said that DIC are preparing a bid.

Fair enough

[AFII]

BBC are normally spot on tho Tommy.

Normally yes, but they had wrong the last time. Much can still happen.

The problem is that DIC would be shafted in other business deals if they pay over the odds for us. So if G&H want unrealistic money then it won't be any deal.

[Joe King]

FT.com

US owners working on Liverpool refinance deal

The US owners of Liverpool Football Club are working towards a conclusion of a refinancing deal with their lenders by the end of this week, according to people close to the situation.

Tom Hicks and George Gillett, who bought the club in a £220m deal last February, are in talks with Royal Bank of Scotland and Wachovia, the US bank, for a deal estimated at about £350m. A new package will include funding for a new stadium.

The duo's ability to set out a long-term strategy for the Premier League club has been hampered by turmoil in the credit markets.

Rumours of tensions between the owners have surfaced and Dubai International Capital, an investment vehicle of the UAE royal family, is understood to be waiting in the wings in case the owners' refinancing plans collapse.

A report at the weekend that the club had already been sold to DIC prompted Mr Hicks to issue a statement on Sunday flatly denying he had either received an offer, accepted an offer, or had any intention of selling his stake in the club.

Mr Hicks' statement said he and his family were committed co-owners of the club "for many years to come".

Mr Hicks last week upset fans on Merseyside by revealing that the owners had earlier in the season lined up a replacement for Rafael Benitez, the club manager who steered Liverpool to victory in the European Cup in 2005. The owners and Mr Benitez have clashed over transfer funds.

Supporters were last night staging a public protest against the US owners at Liverpool's Premier League home game against Aston Villa.

DIC were on the point of buying the club when the Liverpool board decided instead to accept a counter-offer from the US businessmen.

The club had interested Mr Gillett for some years, but Mr Hicks, co-founder of the US investment firm Hicks Muse, Tate & Furst, was brought in by Mr Gillett as a partner relatively late on. RBS and Mr Hicks declined to comment.