Dubai International to make bid for Liverpool FC

[Dhav]

This cant be emphasised enough mate. The more we kick up a fuss, the more the media will shout it out. And the media are our weapon. For once WE can use THEM ****s to get what we want.

Dont give up lads until the fat texan sings.

**** it, I'll bunk off work on Monday, I'll take the car up to Liverpool with the dodgy clutch and flat tyre. I want to be there to do my bit to get these ****s out. I want to help send them a loud, clear and unequivocal message:

GET THE **** OUT OF OUR CLUB

[Flake]

Good man.

We should send Revo over to have a quiet word in his ear.

he'll have to take a box to stand on, else catch the ****er sitting down...

[Alpha]

I'm not playing any 'insider' card nonsense here, just stating an opinion...but i cant see how it could be played this much in the media, without it going ahead.

The fact that Bascombe is reporting that this will happen leads me to believe that behind closed doors, it either already has or it has gone so far that it has reached a point of no return.

Bascombe has gone out on a limb a few times this season and to be fair, he hasn't be far from bang-on. No reason why that should change now.

[Craig_H]

The fact that Bascombe is reporting that this will happen leads me to believe that behind closed doors, it either already has or it has gone so far that it has reached a point of no return.

Yeah but Bascombe also said rafa 'will be sacked' within a few days of that article.

[Dhav]

The fact that Bascombe is reporting that this will happen leads me to believe that behind closed doors, it either already has or it has gone so far that it has reached a point of no return.

Bascombe says that DIC will buy the club, but then goes onto say in the next line that they haven't even made their move yet, ie no bid yet. Seems to be a bit presumptuous to say they will buy the club when they haven't even made a bid yet. Dont believe it's done yet mate.

[Alpha]

Bascombe says that DIC will buy the club, but then goes onto say in the next line that they haven't even made their move yet, ie no bid yet. Seems to be a bit presumptuous to say they will buy the club when they haven't even made a bid yet. Dont believe it's done yet mate.

Good point.

Maybe I should have read the report again before posting.

It is a bit presumptuous. If the dialogue between the Americans and the Arabs has been ongoing for as long as has been reported, perhaps they have reached an understanding and the deal is a formality?

It is strange that Bascombe should be so sure. Mind you, it could be his editor's doing.

Do you know what, if DIC sense desperation, I wouldn't put it past them to go in with a bid much lower than expected just as a "**** you" for last year.

[bazza76]

I'm not playing any 'insider' card nonsense here, just stating an opinion...but i cant see how it could be played this much in the media, without it going ahead.

I know your not playing the insider card.
But in fairness, it has been played out a heck of alot in the media for years now, enough to do us a few takeovers.
I will not believe it has happened till I see the Arabs in Anfield holding a scarf on SSN.
Sure I was convinced alomost a year ago this would be the case, and look what happened.

[sonsofthedesert]

Observer:

Liverpool takeover: £500m bid 'on the table'


Duncan Castles and Paul Wilson
Sunday January 20, 2008
The Observer


Liverpool's owners face a decision this week over their continued presence at Anfield. Observer Sport understands that Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr have now received a formal offer of about £500million for their shares in the club.
The offer - which would allow the Americans to pay off the borrowing with which they purchased Liverpool last February and to net personal profits of £75m each - has been lodged by Dubai International Capital, an Arab investment group that has long targeted Liverpool.

The takeover bid arrives at a particularly difficult moment for Hicks and Gillett, who have drawn the ire of Liverpool supporters for entering into a public dispute with Rafa Benítez over transfer funding and Hicks' admission that they talked to Jürgen Klinsmann about replacing the manager. A sizeable contingent of supporters has called for the Americans to leave the club, with a further protest arranged for tomorrow's meeting with Aston Villa.
While the manager spent much of a press conference fending off questions about anything other than football, he reiterated his belief that he will stay at the club. 'I have a lot of confidence in the future and that I will be involved in it,' Benítez said. 'The most important thing here is the club and the players know that. The key is to keep winning, then everyone is happy.' But the prospects of both the Spaniard and his American employers remain in doubt.

Hicks and Gillett have encountered problems refinancing the £350m of debt they incurred in taking over the club, a loan that is due to expire at the end of next month. In an attempt to generate additional funds for the development of a new stadium, the pair have sought to transfer borrowings for which they are personally responsible on to the club.

While the Royal Bank of Scotland has indicated that it expects the refinancing deal to be concluded this week, senior club figures are concerned about the implications of a new loan. According to City sources, the arrangement fee could be as high as £40m, with annual interest payments of up to £30m depending on the percentage of personal equity injected into the deal by the Americans.

Hicks and Gillett are understood to be in disagreement over the best way to progress. Hicks, the wealthier of the two, has consistently stated that their shares are not for sale and expressed confidence that the refinancing package would be successfully concluded. Gillett has remained in the background, but is thought to be receptive to DIC's offer. A spokesman for Hicks said: 'Any suggestion Hicks and Gillett are contemplating a sale of the club or any portion of it is categorically untrue.'

While DIC sources say it is 'too close to call' whether their current bid will be accepted, the group believes the Americans will sell eventually and DIC will continue to pursue their interest in the club even if the refinancing package is approved.

DIC is ultimately controlled by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who has an estimated wealth of £7billion. Chief executive Sameer Al Ansari is a Liverpool fan. If successful, the group would invest heavily in the team and infrastructure, constructing the stadium required to achieve levels of match-day income comparable with Arsenal and Manchester United.

Hicks and Gillett purchased Liverpool for £174.1m, also taking on outstanding debts of £44.8m. The entire sum and subsequent spending was funded with borrowed monies and they are yet to invest any of their own capital in the club.

Link

[Skillz]

Or that G&H have told him his job is safe.

And you think Rafa is stupid enough to believe anything that comes from them

[bazza76]

Guess we will have to wait and see. Just like any new signing, I won't believe it til I see them paraded at Anfield.

[kurtangle01]

Bascombe says that DIC will buy the club, but then goes onto say in the next line that they haven't even made their move yet, ie no bid yet. Seems to be a bit presumptuous to say they will buy the club when they haven't even made a bid yet. Dont believe it's done yet mate.

In fairness to him he syas that we will be bought by them and a bid will be made this week. You could interpret that as, DIC have an agreement to buy, or that, they will make their move and are confident of success.

It's all cleverly worded so that in the event it doesn't come off he's covered his arse.

I'm hopeful that it will though.

[Jimthered]

Have been thinking about this all day long , if G&H cant even get this loan finalized how are they ever going to get another one for the stadium. The extra they are trying to get now will be just enough to get started on the stadium .

We sure as hell aint going to get a bigger stadium for anything less than the size of the loan they have now.

[Dhav]

In fairness to him he syas that we will be bought by them and a bid will be made this week. You could interpret that as, DIC have an agreement to buy, or that, they will make their move and are confident of success.

It's all cleverly worded so that in the event it doesn't come off he's covered his arse.

I'm hopeful that it will though.

Let's hope there's been informal discussions between the parties behind the scenes and may be that there is even an informal agreement been reached. or DIC to be so public about their bid could suggest they have a great deal of confidence that they'll be successful. Let's hope this comes off, but let's also do all we can to make sure it does.

[Jimthered]

This is from an old article back in December.

LIVERPOOL FC owners have put plans to the borrow the £300million needed for the club's new stadium in Stanley Park on hold until 2009, it was reported today.

According to the Daily Telegraph, George Gillett and Tom Hicks will clinch an interim deal before Christmas - with the Royal Bank of Scotland and American bank Wachovia - to borrow £350million to refinance the loan used to fund their £220million takeover at Anfield last February.

[Dhav]

What gives me hope is that they've been trying to finalise this refinance for so long, yet as we get very close to the expiry of the existing loan, they still dont seem to have managed it.