Dubai International to make bid for Liverpool FC

[Shanks65]

Liverpool is now an international club

By Michael Henderson
Last Updated: 1:39am GMT 24/01/2008

''Lying *******s, get out of our club." As statements go, it has at least the virtue of clarity and brevity. It is also, to use a modern idiom, postcode-conscious, as many football supporters are. ''Our" club; not yours, despite all the money you have, or have not, poured into it.

So now the fans of Liverpool, who welcomed the Americans Tom Hicks and George Gillett a year ago, are clamouring for some even richer men from Dubai to come in and preserve - what? The soul of a great English club?

One would like to think so, as Liverpool have given so much to the game in this country, but the game, in both senses, has moved on.

Traditionally, Liverpool were the best-run of all English clubs. Now they can be bought and sold, like Manchester United before them, though, blessedly, not Arsenal. Not yet. When the Americans come in to run their affairs the ravens will leave the Tower.

At such times there is always hot air, and a warm wind blew through Anfield the other evening.

''The fans want them out, unconditionally," said Kevin Sampson, a spokesman for a group called Reclaim the Kop. ''Unconditional", as in love. As, also in surrender.
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We've passed that stage, dear boy, while you weren't looking. When Hicks and Gillett leave, they will do so on their own terms. It's their club, too.

Neither man will feel particularly intimidated by those who would dislodge them. ''Liverpool and its people are the most generous hosts you are going to find anywhere," said spokesman Sampson, ''but cross us and that's that." Yawn. ''Ask Margaret Thatcher." Yawn. ''Ask Kelvin McKenzie. Ask Boris the Buffoon."
# Liverpool homepage | Football fans' forum

He then told the Americans to ''saddle their horses". Yet rich Texans do not take orders from lippy Liverpudlians.

Civic pride has something going for it, though not as much as the Kop reclaimers imagine. Whether decisions are taken in Texas or in Dubai, Liverpool is now an international club. Nothing can change that, however much we would all like to turn back the clock.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2008/01/24/sfnhen124.xml

[Redfan63]

Liverpool fans threaten American owners with financial boycott


Andy Hunter
Thursday January 24, 2008
The Guardian


Liverpool fans are prepared to turn their protests against Tom Hicks and George Gillett into a financial boycott of the club should the Americans remain in control at Anfield, a survey of 2,000 disillusioned supporters has found.
The Liverpool Supporters Network, a coalition of fanzines and leading websites, polled members this week in response to the uncertainty surrounding the ownership of the club and of the manager, Rafael Benítez, following Hicks' revelations that he and Gillett approached Jürgen Klinsmann about the Spaniard's job.


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Unsurprisingly 99% backed Benítez over the co-chairmen when asked who had the best interests of the club at heart and 98% said they did not trust Gillett and Hicks after they reneged on their promise not to burden Liverpool with debt similar to the Glazer family's takeover of Manchester United.
That may become a reality today, however, with the Americans hoping to announce a £350m loan with the Royal Bank of Scotland and the US bank Wachovia that would refinance their initial takeover and strengthen their control on the club in the short term at least. They will then be in a position to unveil their revised stadium proposals.

Liverpool are facing £30m annual interest repayments should the Americans refinance and continue to resist offers to sell from Dubai International Capital, and supporters intend to exert their own financial pressures should Gillett and Hicks stay. The survey found 76% were willing to withdraw their financial commitment to the club in the form of match tickets, merchandising or subscriptions to the official Liverpool website. The Supporters Network will also propose extending the boycott to include club sponsors Carlsberg, the kit suppliers Adidas and even the RBS should the loan go through.

A spokesperson for the network, Neil Atkinson, said: "The results of this survey are indicative of the strength of feeling among Liverpool fans that the club is very much in the wrong hands at present. Tom Hicks and George Gillett are not trusted by Liverpool supporters and that three-quarters of fans would consider withdrawing their financial support of the club should the present owners remain in charge demonstrates how committed Liverpool fans are to seeing the club removed from the control of the present owners."

The striker Andriy Voronin was taken to hospital yesterday after damaging an ankle during training. The club has yet to put a timescale on the Ukrainian international's absence but he will certainly miss Saturday's FA Cup fourth-round tie against non-league Havant & Waterlooville. Also on the sidelines, and for at least the next fortnight, is Alvaro Arbeloa. The versatile defender suffered an abdominal injury during Monday's 2-2 draw with Aston Villa.

Mohamed Sissoko believes he could complete a move to Claudio Ranieri's Juventus by the end of the week. "It's a matter of a few days," Sissoko told the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport. "A maximum of four days and then everything will be decided. I know there has been some movement but we have to wait. I've known Ranieri since my time at Valencia and I did really well with him. I confess that wearing the Juventus shirt would be the maximum for me."

[desertscouser]

Well, he probably only put two and two together and got five.

Milan want to sign a new keeper.

Mascheranos agent saying that Masch is probably off to Italy.

and so on.

AF, you're very inconsistent. You've been telling us that Mourinho to Milan is the worst kept secret in football. How has that suddenly changed??

[desertscouser]

If Parry were to refuse to sign then the Yanks would have no choice but to sell as they'd lose the club to the bank. Unfortunately Parry's got no balls so we can forget that.

Don't think so mate. They'd just sack him and put another yes man in his place who will sign off on it. People forget, Hicks and Gillett OWN the club. The only people that can stop them from getting the loan are the decision makers at the bank.

[Rashid]

DIC are not going to leave quietly this time. It will run and run until they get Liverpool.

[tomasjj]

From shankslegend on rawk....posted two days ago

Hello all, i have a bit of an update that i heard today but this is the first time i have been able to access a PC.

Anyway am sticking my neck out here, so i don't want people to start asking questions as what i know and what i can divulge is in this post.

Basically DIC are now in direct contact with the owners in a bid to buy Kop Football Ltd, advisors who worked on the previous deal are working closely with them to broker the right deal for all partys. Direct dialogue is now taking place and it is hoped that providing everything is right DIC will make a formal bid for the club may be in the next few days.

However it is believed Hicks may use the interest to secure his loan, i.e. meaning he is able to show the bank there is a way out if it goes wrong.

I have to also point out that dispite rumours of a rift between Gillet and Hicks this is very wrong and they are still working closely on securing their refinance package deal hence the above.

Also on a different note, these Crouch rumours have more back bone to them then you think and i know Harry Redknapp has denied it but there has been contact between the clubs.

[Darkon]

Tom Hicks and George Gillett’s £350m loan hope

Jan 24 2008 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL FC co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett could announce the completion of a £350m refinancing deal with Royal Bank of Scotland and American investment bank Wachovia as early as today.

Sources said revised plans for a new Anfield stadium will be revealed at the same time as the financing package in a bumper announcement that the Americans hope to use to signal their continuing commitment to the club.

It is thought any deal will be unveiled by Monday at the latest.

The Daily Post understands that Dubai International Capital (DIC) are still keen to buy Liverpool but they will not pay over the odds and will probably “cool” their interest should the refinancing go through.

The refinancing deal is not expected not see the full debt loaded on to the club, as many fans had feared.

A source said: “The refinancing deal is going through. It could go through today, Friday or Monday.”

The source said £105m will be put on the club’s books - £60m for the stadium project, and £45m for working capital which has helped finance the purchase of players.

This is seen as an entirely legitimate way to operate as those costs were associated with the running of Liverpool FC.

The terms of the agreement are also expected to see Hicks and Gillett putting in some of their own money - around £40m - supported by personal guarantees and letters of credit.

The debt could be paid off personally by Hicks and Gillett with the club paying the pair dividends each year.

The Daily Post understands that Hicks and Gillett had been initially keen to put the full £350m on LFC.

It is believed chief executive Rick Parry and former chairman David Moores argued against this, believing it would have been a breach of their promise when they bought the club.

A Daily Post survey of 2,500 fans yesterday revealed that more were concerned about keeping debt on the club to a minimum than funding transfers. Once the refinanc- ing is sorted, Hicks and Gil- lett face finding more money for the new stadium.

[dom9]

Tom Hicks and George Gillett’s £350m loan hope

Jan 24 2008 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post

LIVERPOOL FC co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett could announce the completion of a £350m refinancing deal with Royal Bank of Scotland and American investment bank Wachovia as early as today.

Sources said revised plans for a new Anfield stadium will be revealed at the same time as the financing package in a bumper announcement that the Americans hope to use to signal their continuing commitment to the club.

It is thought any deal will be unveiled by Monday at the latest.

The Daily Post understands that Dubai International Capital (DIC) are still keen to buy Liverpool but they will not pay over the odds and will probably “cool” their interest should the refinancing go through.

The refinancing deal is not expected not see the full debt loaded on to the club, as many fans had feared.

A source said: “The refinancing deal is going through. It could go through today, Friday or Monday.”

The source said £105m will be put on the club’s books - £60m for the stadium project, and £45m for working capital which has helped finance the purchase of players.

This is seen as an entirely legitimate way to operate as those costs were associated with the running of Liverpool FC.

The terms of the agreement are also expected to see Hicks and Gillett putting in some of their own money - around £40m - supported by personal guarantees and letters of credit.

The debt could be paid off personally by Hicks and Gillett with the club paying the pair dividends each year.

The Daily Post understands that Hicks and Gillett had been initially keen to put the full £350m on LFC.

It is believed chief executive Rick Parry and former chairman David Moores argued against this, believing it would have been a breach of their promise when they bought the club.

A Daily Post survey of 2,500 fans yesterday revealed that more were concerned about keeping debt on the club to a minimum than funding transfers. Once the refinanc- ing is sorted, Hicks and Gil- lett face finding more money for the new stadium.

That looks like a compromise to me.

[sonsofthedesert]

That looks like a compromise to me.

They wouldn't have done that if they didn't plan on staying long term. If your going there is nothing to lose by putting the debt on the club.

[Tee]

So, is it safe to say no DIC??

[CAD]

I think so...

[Alpha]

They wouldn't have done that if they didn't plan on staying long term. If your going there is nothing to lose by putting the debt on the club.

What if there are no guarantees you are going?

[AFII]

Strange that it's now Monday at the latest.

Something is still going on behind the scenes IMO.

[Morten_nogamst_Pedersen]

Could be yeah.

[Pacman]

maybe not

This post scares the **** out of me.

What do you know Kev mate?