Dubai International to make bid for Liverpool FC

[enema of the state]

From Dave Usher.

of course its not over

its a classic business "buff and turf"

[Guest]

We can debate sensibly & logically between ourselves, but how can we believe anything that Hick's says, reading the FACTS about his past exploits makes me a very worried fan right now.

I fear the stadium designs & a few well placed words from Hick's will all but see the end of any REAL action to get them out, just a feeling i get reading the posts about the stadium. With more PR i'm sure to come the fight is all but done, sure there will be some discontented voices out there, but they will be well in the distance.

I'm worried too and I don't believe Hicks. Imo he's on a massive PR mission. And if it's indeed the case, he's taking us for massive fools.

But I don't think that fueling the anger of people is good though, as it's not the way we've been used to do things. But I can't fault fans for voicing their concerns that way though, as they're entitled to protest as they wish.

[desertscouser]

There can be better ways to demonstrate our discontent isn't it ?

How about being a little bit smarter and try to instigate debate for a start ?

Instigate fair debate with a ruthles lying businessman from Texas? I doubt we'd get anywhere. The only thing that would make Hicks sit up and take notice of ,is if suddenly his investment was losing money. Nothing else matters to him.

[rushscored4]

The RTK bods are worrying me. Fingers in their ears going "Na na na na na, I can't hear you, na na na na". Let's see what the ****ing plans are first, and at least see what happens in the summer!

That's just too rational for these people, Darren...

Agreed, some fickle fans here................each to their own, but I'll never forget what they've done to this club/what they haven't done, and I'll not be happy till they've taken their money out of the club

I didn't know RTK had put money in the club?

We should all get behind the RTK. Reclaim Our Club From The Yank *******s

Well though out that. What time is lunchbreak over? It's double Maths this afternoon...

Look at this no brain:

John Mackin of supporters group Reclaim The Kop said: "Unless the owners come out and say they are giving Rafa Benitez a new deal, they are going to support him extensively in the transfer market, and that none of the money to fund that will put the club in debt, they have got no chance of winning us over."

The money for the stadium and for transfer will essentially come from the same pockets if we run with the expected deficit for the next four years ei. the investment that is the stadium. It makes zero ****ing sense. Embarrasing ambassador for the fans of LFC! It's like arguing with a kid ffs. Zero insight - I want a red lollipop h:

"Of the £350m refinancing package £105m will be saddled on Liverpool, with £185m secured on Hicks and Gillett's holding company Kop Investment."

If that is accurate then people should clam it and wait and see what happens. We look very healthy as far as I can see under these terms.

Glazer didn't give Fergie that much in his first summer window after the takeover. He did the following summer. I agree that the 23mill netspend last summer was a major disappointment. It might happen again next window but the financing and debt is a different issue and should be treated as such.

Bottom-line is: G&H will have to fund us until the stadium is in place. How much will they bring for transfers? Enough to challenge or enough to stay in top 4? Probably the ladder. Should we blame them or blame Moores or just accept that we won't be ready to really move forward until the stadium is in place?

I guess it's up to the individual. If you opt to just blame G&H for the current state of affairs, you're one hell of a shortsighted mofo imho.

We're pissing in the wind, mate...

[Vermilion]

I'm worried too and I don't believe Hicks. Imo he's on a massive PR mission. And if it's indeed the case, he's taking us for massive fools.

But I don't think that fueling the anger of people is good though, as it's not the way we've been used to do things. But I can't fault fans for voicing their concerns that way though, as they're entitled to protest as they wish.

Agreed, i cant get excited though as we have EXACTLY what i expected, the same stadium made from cheaper materials, It's just with the reaction i'm reading on here to the plans i can see H&G now HIGH FIVING EACHOTHER.

[rushscored4]

Agreed, i cant get excited though as we have EXACTLY what i expected, the same stadium made from cheaper materials, It's just with the reaction i'm reading on here to the plans i can see H&G now HIGH FIVING EACHOTHER.

I'll ask you one question. To keep it simple for you all you have to do is answer "yes" or "no":

Are the plans for the 70,000 seater stadium announced today better than the 60,000 'Parrybowl' we were getting before G&H rode into town?

[redlancer]

I'll ask you one question. To keep it simple for you all you have to do is answer "yes" or "no":

Are the plans for the 70,000 seater stadium announced today better than the 60,000 'Parrybowl' we were getting before G&H rode into town?

Also would we have got Torres?

[cannotmakeit]

Is this Anfield?
Jan 25 2008


By Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo




TOM Hicks today released an image of Liverpool's planned new stadium as fans awaited the details of the promised refinancing deal.

A design submitted by architects HKS has been selected after the Dallas-based firm revised their initial design which was scrapped because of spiralling costs last month.

HKS met a request by Liverpool's owners to make the design more cost-effective, and in doing so beat off competition from Manchester architects AFL to win the contract.

But while the designs for Liverpool's new home are now in place, the fans are still awaiting details of how it will be paid for.


Story continues
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The refinancing package which the Hicks camp had indicated would be completed by yesterday had still not been concluded by the time the ECHO went to print today.

It is being stressed that the hold- up is an administrative one with lawyers having to plough through the necessary paperwork of such a major deal, and the ECHO understands Hicks is totally confident that it will now go through without a hitch.

But sources close to the proposed deal have suggested that George Gillett's necessary financial contribution to the deal is still to be received by the Royal Bank of Scotland and American investment back Wachovia who have come up with the proposed £350m loan.

That loan would allow Hicks and Gillett to totally refinance their takeover of the club and allow work to start on the new 71,000-seat stadium.

But whether today's news is enough to placate the fans is another matter entirely.

John Mackin of supporters group Reclaim The Kop said: "Unless the owners come out and say they are giving Rafa Benitez a new deal, they are going to support him extensively in the transfer market, and that none of the money to fund that will put the club in debt, they have got no chance of winning us over.

"Such is the level of disquiet among the fans that a meeting is to be held next week when we will discuss the next phase in our ongoing protests against the owners.

"We have seen pretty pictures of stadium designs before and we're still waiting for a single spade to go into the ground at Stanley Park, something Hicks and Gillett promised would happen within 60 days of takeover, so it'll take a lot more than a new picture and a major PR offensive for us to be won over."

Despite being aware of the ongoing fans’ rebellion, Hicks is hoping the release of the new stadium plans will at least begin a process which will result in them being placated.

He said: "HKS has developed a more efficient design that, at the same time, is just as stunning as its original design.

"Liverpool supporters should have high expectations for the future: a premier sporting experience at their new stadium at Stanley Park and a winning club on the pitch for years to come".

Interestingly, George Gillett's name is conspicuous only by its absence on the press release which was issued to the ECHO by London PR firm Financial Dynamics today.
The new design incorporates the 18,500 capacity stand-alone Kop which Hicks had insisted was crucial to his plans, and KUD International has been selected as project manager for the stadium.

Laing O'Rourke, which is currently working with developer Grosvenor on The Paradise Project in Liverpool, has also joined the project development team.

Despite speculation that today's developments might signal the end of Dubai International's pursuit of Liverpool Football Club, the ECHO believes the opposite is true and that DIC has not given up hope of buying the club.

Hicks had been hopeful that he would be in a position to come up with a double whammy of a new stadium design and a completed financial package with details of both to be released at exactly the same time.

The loan on the table from RBS and Wachovia will enable Hicks and Gillett to repay the £298m they have borrowed over the past 12 months to buy the club, absorb existing debts of £44.8m, sign players and finance work on the new stadium.

The additional funds will repay interest and enable work on the stadium project to start.

Of the £350m refinancing package £105m will be saddled on Liverpool, with £185m secured on Hicks and Gillett's holding company Kop Investment.

The Americans are believed to have increased their personal guarantees from £30m each to about £55m.

In another sweetener, Rafa Benitez has been informed by Hicks that he intends to tie up the proposed £17m transfer of fans’ favourite Javier Mascherano at the earliest possible opportunity.

Timeline:

June 2000: Liverpool FC announces its ambition of developing a new Anfield 60,000-seat stadium in neighbouring Stanley Park.

March 7, 2001: Liverpool reveals it is considering abandoning its Stanley Park plans for a 75,000-seat ground in Speke, over fears of a long planning inquiry.

May 17, 2002: The move to Stanley Park is back on as the ECHO reveals plans and images of Liverpool’s proposed new £70m 55,000-seater Stanley Park stadium.

Nov 23, 2006: Northwest Development Agency refuses to hand over £9m funding over fears that there was no "clear evidence of the club's ability to commence with the stadium project".

March 15, 2007: Fears of a delay to the new ground over plans to increase capacity to 70,000 which could result in a planning inquiry.

Sept 20, 2007: The final slice of public funding for the new Stanley Park ground was agreed when the board of the Northwest Regional Development Agency voted an award of £9.3m to add to the £9m already given from the European Objective 1 fund.

Dec 18, 2007: Liverpool owners Hicks and Gillett call for architects to revise plans for the stadium after costs soared beyond £400m.

Jan 25, 2008: Tom Hicks reveals new 71,000-seat stadium plans by architects HKS due to open in August 2011.

This is the most interesting bits. Its all Hicks talking, wher is old George and why has he kept so quiet?

[Tom]

Look at this no brain:

John Mackin of supporters group Reclaim The Kop said: "Unless the owners come out and say they are giving Rafa Benitez a new deal, they are going to support him extensively in the transfer market, and that none of the money to fund that will put the club in debt, they have got no chance of winning us over."

The money for the stadium and for transfer will essentially come from the same pockets if we run with the expected deficit for the next four years ei. the investment that is the stadium. It makes zero ****ing sense. Embarrasing ambassador for the fans of LFC! It's like arguing with a kid ffs. Zero insight - I want a red lollipop h:


"Of the £350m refinancing package £105m will be saddled on Liverpool, with £185m secured on Hicks and Gillett's holding company Kop Investment."

If that is accurate then people should clam it and wait and see what happens. We look very healthy as far as I can see under these terms.

Glazer didn't give Fergie that much in his first summer window after the takeover. He did the following summer. I agree that the 23mill netspend last summer was a major disappointment. It might happen again next window but the financing and debt is a different issue and should be treated as such.

Bottom-line is: G&H will have to fund us until the stadium is in place. How much will they bring for transfers? Enough to challenge or enough to stay in top 4? Probably the ladder. Should we blame them or blame Moores or just accept that we won't be ready to really move forward until the stadium is in place?

CAD I'm listening mate but explain this to me.

In regard the debts taken on by Kop football and LFC, can you shed light on how this part of the debt is to be paid off and who is liable for it. From my understanding of the legal position LFC won't be liable for Kop Football Ltd's debts or defaults. Given that LFC is the only asset of Kop football rom where will they be drawing down assets to pay back this loan? What happens to LFC if KFL defaults?

It's smoke and mirror finances mate. The whole fianancing shinbag is held together with rubber bands and sellotape. I think you may be disapointed if you think that Gillette and Hicks will fund us until the stadium is built. I think we'll see very meagre pickings transfer-wise until the stadium is built. Very meagre indeed.

[disco]

There can be better ways to demonstrate our discontent isn't it ?

How about being a little bit smarter and try to instigate debate for a start ?

Exactly. Pose some questions, get some answers. ENGAGE the owners.

At the moment it's pathetic, incredibly embarrassing, pram/toy/throwing when they should be supporting the team.

[Gaz]

We're now all getting the stadium we all wanted then, if we get money in the summer to invest in the squad to help us maintain a sustained challenge next season. It would be difficult to build that sort of stadium without placing some sort of debt on the club so things are looking brighter now, i'm willing to give G&H the chance to turn this situation around.

[homer1]

I'll ask you one question. To keep it simple for you all you have to do is answer "yes" or "no":

Are the plans for the 70,000 seater stadium announced today better than the 60,000 'Parrybowl' we were getting before G&H rode into town?

If your boss said he was buying you a new Fiesta as a company car, then company got taken over and your new boss said "that's a load of crap, I'm buying you a BMW" and you went off boasting to your mates - would you happy if they downsized that to a Mondeo because it's better than the Fiesta??

Only yankin yer chain but I think everyone's stressed out and concerned as there are so many rumours and conflicting stories doing the rounds - we're all passionate Reds (otherwise we wouldn't be on here) who want the best for our club

[Bob]

I'll ask you one question. To keep it simple for you all you have to do is answer "yes" or "no":

Are the plans for the 70,000 seater stadium announced today better than the 60,000 'Parrybowl' we were getting before G&H rode into town?

Yes. BUT there's still no stadium, call me cynical, but i'm unsure about it being built.

Furthermore how much did the whole AFL process cost? LFC is being badly mismanaged in my opinion, but like you obviously the support for the 'club' is still there.

[rushscored4]

I'll ask you one question. To keep it simple for you all you have to do is answer "yes" or "no":

Are the plans for the 70,000 seater stadium announced today better than the 60,000 'Parrybowl' we were getting before G&H rode into town?

If your boss said he was buying you a new Fiesta as a company car, then company got taken over and your new boss said "that's a load of crap, I'm buying you a BMW" and you went off boasting to your mates - would you happy if they downsized that to a Mondeo because it's better than the Fiesta??

Which bit of the "to keep it simple for you all you have to do is answer yes or no" did you not understand?

(And by the way, I'd rather have a Mondeo than a BMW 'cos they're less common!)

[rushscored4]

Furthermore how much did the whole AFL process cost? LFC is being badly mismanaged in my opinion, but like you obviously the support for the 'club' is still there.

We paid them off after the 'Parrybowl' design. The new tender cost us nothing extra but used up a lot of AFL's pay-off which is their problem. Having met some of the AFL Directors, it couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of smug *******s...