DIC latest - the largely wild speculation thread

[carlton]

DIC eyeing possible Newcastle United bid

By Rob Stewart
Last Updated: 1:39am GMT 18/02/2008

The future direction of Newcastle United was the subject of heightened speculation last night after fresh rumours surfaced suggesting owner Mike Ashley is willing to sell the club less than a year after his £134 million takeover.

The Dubai International Capital (DIC) consortium are said to have been contacted by Ashley's representatives about a £300 million sale.

The link with a Middle East consortium frequently mooted as Liverpool's suitors emerged after it was reported that a Tyneside-based group of businessmen were putting together a £250 million takeover bid and they want former club captain Alan Shearer on board.

"Alan has been contacted by a group who want to try to buy Newcastle," a source close to the talks said yesterday.

"They're from the North East. What they want from Alan is not his money but his support, his blessing."

Newcastle have regularly been at the centre of speculation suggesting Ashley is ready to sell up.

The club have undergone major upheaval since he took over last summer. As well as sacking Sam Allardyce and replacing him with Kevin Keegan, the sports retail tycoon appointed Dennis Wise as the club's director of football.

Over the weekend Ashley and club chairman Chris Mort were the subject of a thinly veiled attack from Allardyce.

"Huge businessmen, multimillionaires in their own right, very clever men, but never been shouted at," Allardyce said.

"They can't stand the pressure, their knees buckle, they don't stand strong and they use the easy option to take the pressure off themselves. They have to be the strongest ones and often they're the weakest ones."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=A1YourView&xml=/sport/2008/02/18/sfnnew118.xml

Looks like Ashley, went cap in hand to D.I.C. Hope they told him to **** off.

Newcastle?

[sonsofthedesert]

So it starts off by saying Ashley contacted DIC and then forgets about that and starts to talk about the Newcastle based consortium (nothing to d with DIC) who want to buy the club with Alan Shearer at the head. The only reason they got DIC into that was because they cliam they were approached by Newcastle. Stupid story that.

[Manofthebog]

Tick follows tock, follows tick, follows tock...................

Feck me, I could do with a pint

[Rashid]

No way will they buy Newcastle, the even refused to invest in Arsenal in the hope they could get us some day.

[blacky]

Is Hicks coming to the Inter game? He has a massive pair of cohones if he does

[DannyMan2006]

Is Hicks coming to the Inter game? He has a massive pair of cohones if he does

Maybe a bit of on line shopping in order if he does............

http://www.opsgear.com/Ballistic-Armor-s/239.htm

[mersey86]

hypothetical : DIC buy out h&g , being business men want success and quick so sack rafa and bring in a "yes" man to front the club for them....how long till the "DIC out"
The Kop might be a little wary of chanting anything like that! protests begin?

(p.s. dont have a go at me, i'm only asking a question)

[scouse lad]

They wern't Gillett is on 'holiday' with Hicks still in the states.

Gillett on Holiday, what are you his pa or something?

[L10]

Gillett on Holiday, what are you his pa or something?

same ole **** comment from the KT days when certain people thought they had inside info. Can't comment at the moment ........ is on holiday at the moment oh ****ing really

[Shanks]

Is Hicks coming to the Inter game? He has a massive pair of cohones if he does

I have heard that Hicks will be at the Inter game, without Gillett.

[jrd7]

same ole **** comment from the KT days when certain people thought they had inside info. Can't comment at the moment ........ is on holiday at the moment oh ****ing really

So what are you trying to say?

What are your contacts saying? What can't you comment on?

[vantage]

Is Hicks coming to the Inter game? He has a massive pair of cohones if he does

I think you'll find they are 'cojones'.

[carlton]

but the 'j' is sounded like an 'h'

[Rashid]

Tom Hicks and Gillett's future rests on Europe
By David Bond
Last Updated: 1:49am GMT 19/02/2008

Rafa Benitez might have rejected the suggestion yesterday that this is the most difficult period of his managerial career, but with Liverpool's season now resting on the outcome of the Champions League clash against Inter Milan the Spaniard knows just how crucial tonight's opening leg is to his Anfield future.

Liverpool need pride to face Inter | Fans' forum
For Liverpool, the repercussions of an early exit from the knock-out phase of Europe's premier cup competition could be even more far reaching.

Although Benitez can take some comfort from their game in hand, Liverpool sit fifth in the Premier League, three points behind their Merseyside rivals Everton.

Having crashed out of the FA Cup against Barnsley at the weekend, the prospects of Benitez turning his side's domestic form around to claim fourth spot, and that precious place in the Champions League next season, do not look great.

Not for the first time, Benitez may be forced to rely on Europe to save him from the sack. Unless their domestic form picks up soon then winning the European Cup may present Liverpool with their only route back to Europe's top table.

For the club's American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr, failure to make next season's lucrative group phase will leave their recent refinancing plans in tatters.

advertisementAccording to Uefa's financial distribution figures for last season, Liverpool were paid £24.2 million for reaching the final of the Champions League in Athens last May, where they lost to AC Milan.

On top of that Liverpool will have made another £5m-£10m from gate revenue and merchandising, taking the total amount earned to £30m.

Qualifying for the Uefa Cup would be unlikely to plug the gap. While clubs are free to negotiate their own TV deals, the winners only make around £6 m from lifting the trophy.

Hicks and Gillett have just borrowed £350m to refinance their £219m acquisition last February, cover other existing debts, provide £60m of working capital for the club's new stadium at Stanley Park and money for new players.

The annual interest charge on their new borrowings is estimated to be £28m a year. That is a hefty burden for a team expected to make an operating surplus - before interest payments - of around £30m in the current financial year. That is a business plan that leaves very little room for manoeuvre.

Conservative estimates for the cost of missing out on at least the group stage of the Champions League qualification are pitched at around the £10m mark.

Were Liverpool to miss out, that shortfall will have to be plugged directly by Hicks and Gillett. But, having experienced such difficulties in securing the refinancing deal and with questions still being asked over their long term commitment, that will only place the Americans under even more pressure to do a deal with Dubai International Capital, who, despite reports of a possible takeover bid for Newcastle, remain determined to buy Liverpool

[pezzzer]

so if we loose both legs and get knocked out h and g would be under more pressure to sell?