Hicks Speaks - Sun 26.

[Red_Al_77]

That's what you say. Who told you that DEFINITIVELY (seems to be the acceptable burden of evidence today).

Nice deflection. The truth hurts. I wouldn't tell you the details of my source. Only fools break such trust and blurt out who gave them information on the internet.

[Dhav]

Some times I wonder why anyone bothers posting an opinion on here when it is just met with the catch-all "you don't know that for sure" defence

[El Jefecito]

So I take it you now have a source for the detailed information you have about the loan arrangements. The personal guarantee will only be called on if the company defaults on repayments. Why would the company default when it has assets that can be sold to make the repayments?

That is what was reported in the Telegraph link.

[reddragon]

Not heard what he had to say, but have read this thread. Two observations:-

1) No chance of Rafa staying beyond this season with these two at the helm
2) G&H are experts at telling the fans what they want to hear and pushing their agenda. Anything Hicks says (and Gillett for that matter) needs to be taken with a huge pinch of salt.

[reddragon]

It couldn't be more obvious that one-way-or-another, he is trying to **** us over and I despair that any self-respecting Liverpool fan will give Hicks enough benefit of the doubt to take his words at face value.

have a look at the split on the Kop thread mate

[Danish_Pastry]

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2008/01/26/we-don-t-buy-it-done-deal-on-loan-fails-to-placate-reds-supporters-100252-20397518/:

Tony Barrett on LFC’s refinancing

ON December 16, George Gillett addressed the Liverpool Former Players Association at the city centre Holiday Inn.

He told them of his regret over the row with Rafa Benitez and how the Spaniard was the man to manage Liverpool for the foreseeable future.

If the content was significant, so was the date. Because it remains the last time Gillett has spoken in public about the club.

Yesterday, Liverpool FC was refinanced with a £350m loan with the Royal Bank of Scotland and American investment bank Wachovia and the latest stadium plans were released.

Both developments were accompanied by press releases carrying quotes from Tom Hicks, but nothing from Gillett.

While the silence from the Wisconsin multi-millionaire was deafening, the Texan spoke with confidence, telling fans the time had come to stop protesting and start supporting and insisting the deal showed positive financial prospects.

He said: "This new financing package is a strong vote of confidence in the club's financial strength and a recognition of the exceptional opportunity represented by the construction of the club's new state-of-the-art stadium at Stanley Park.

"With the refinancing process now done, club supporters can look forward to the timely commencement of construction work on the new stadium and renew their focus on actions on the pitch."

Whether "club supporters" are ready to take his advice is another matter. More protests are planned for today's match against Havant & Waterlooville.

And new fans action group Sons Of Shankly (SOS) is set to be launched next Thursday.

Yesterday's negotiations over the refinancing means Liverpool are now £105m in debt. The money will be used to fund initial building work on the new stadium and forthcoming transfer moves.

Kop Holdings, the holding company set up by Hicks and Gillett after last year's takeover, will take on £245m debt.

But the question still remains: how and when will it be repaid?

The ECHO put this to Hicks by e-mail yesterday, but is still to receive a reply.

City sources have indicated there is nothing to stop it being moved onto the club and only resistance from life president David Moores and chief executive Rick Parry has stopped it happening already.

But should Moores and Parry be removed from the club's board, there would be no opposition.

Kop Holdings could also take dividends from future club profits to reduce their own liabilities.

It remains a complicated situation which will only become clearer if Hicks and Gillett add more information and offer guarantees over the demands of the £245m loan.

Having undermined Benitez with his admission he held talks with Jurgen Klinsmann, Hicks yesterday gave reassurances about his future.

He said: "Since the meeting with Rafa on December 16th, at which some widely reported communications issues were discussed, Rafa has been assured that he has continuing and enthusiastic support.

"Reflecting that support, Kop recently approved his payment to sign Martin Skrtel for £6.5m and is in discussions with Rafa and club management regarding additional player signings this summer.

"Rafa is under contract for two more seasons following this season. I am solidly behind Rafa and am confident of the team's competitive prospects under his continuing leadership."

The word "I" rather than "we" will raise questions about Gillett's thoughts on the matter and despite making several attempts to get in touch with him last night, he remained silent.

[email protected]

[Red_Al_77]

I was looking for to back up what you said. I'll change my mind if it is credible.

So if I quote a name how will that make it credible?

[Alpha]

Mate I've been questioning those that make factual statements with nothing to back them up. The only things I've stated are things have been directly attributed to the owners.

VERY different thing! Can you not see that?

You are Tom Hicks' PR officer's wet dream.

[El Jefecito]

So if I quote a name how will that make it credible?

Wasn't asking for a name. There are plenty of ways to make it sound credible. Elisha is credible. Why? Because he has consistently provided information that can be validated and has almost always been right! (Not saying he doesn't BS from time to time).

[dww]

How often does Hicks mention the stadium in the interview, how it will be the best football stadium in the world etc. What a blatant attempt to placate the fans.

He was very evasive about how they were going to arrange the rest of the finance for the stadium 18 months down the line though.

Just listened and you are very right. I kind of expected it though - it is something that everyone thinks is a good thing. He is trying to get people back on side and I don't think there is anything wrong with that.

Having said that he should have been honest about the debt repayments. To be honest while emotive I think people would come round to it if it were proven that it made no great difference to our plans re. players etc.

I don't think the interview will have changed anyones mind on this subject (as this thread largely proves).

I'm still dubious but a fence sitter, most people think G&H are cunts. He has the right idea in the interview though - prove his worth in actions not words if in indeed he can.

Unlike everyone else I thought he sounded quite genuine about Rafa. Might just be that his pay off would be too big though

[kurtangle01]

I've got a question on this that someone on here might be able to answer.

Surely a loan of this size would normally be taken out over the course of say...25 years? Why is this refinancing package being taken out for 18 months? There is absolutely no way we can afford to pay that back in that time. More to the point, having seen our finances the bank surely know this so why would they lend such a huge amount of money over such a short period?

This is a huge mess.

[tomasjj]

Hicks?

I don't believe that man.

[El Jefecito]

I've got a question on this that someone on here might be able to answer.

Surely a loan of this size would normally be taken out over the course of say...25 years? Why is this refinancing package being taken out for 18 months? There is absolutely no way we can afford to pay that back in that time. More to the point, having seen our finances the bank surely know this s why would they lend such a huge amount of money over such a shrt period?

This is a huge mess.

Don't forget we're going to need another god knows how much to complete the stadium and we'll need that in the next couple of years too.

[dww]

I've got a question on this that someone on here might be able to answer.

Surely a loan of this size would normally be taken out over the course of say...25 years? Why is this refinancing package being taken out for 18 months? There is absolutely no way we can afford to pay that back in that time. More to the point, having seen our finances the bank surely know this so why would they lend such a huge amount of money over such a short period?

This is a huge mess.

I would assume because:

a/ the current financial climate is unfavourable and so a short term deal on the right terms will allow us to renegotiate fiurther down the line when G&H hope the climate will be better.

b/ we will need a new loan (for the stadium) and once we have the right planning permission and have maybe sold the naming rights we will be in a stronger position to get a better deal on the loan with reference to our future earnings.

[Danish_Pastry]

and still Hicks tell the texan newspapers, that Liverpool is his best asset:

■ Liverpool fanatics railed last week at the ownership of Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr., many even hoping they would sell to a previous bidder. Fat chance. Hicks' numbers show that his soccer club will have the biggest profit margin of any of his three sports franchises. ...

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/columnists/ksherrington/stories/012708dnsposherrington.2c452d0.html