DIC latest - the largely wild speculation thread

[Vermilion]

I wonder how many of the THICKS clan their PR company will advise to be in Milan tonight?

[red g]

I wonder how many of the THICKS clan their PR company will advise to be in Milan tonight?

pretty sure the support of the team will be seen as a support for hickscunt

[Roboklopp]

Cannot believe that Breakfast dickhead Chris Hollins this am. He's an utterly punchable smug **** at the best of times, but he was painting Hicks' statement as a "timely boost" before the Inter game this am.

[Shaggy]

Cannot believe that Breakfast dickhead Chris Hollins this am. He's an utterly punchable smug **** at the best of times, but he was painting Hicks' statement as a "timely boost" before the Inter game this am.

A timely boost? Who is this moron? Some radio knobhead no doubt. Talksport by any chance?

[Roboklopp]

No mate- Breakfast telly. That gormless nonce on BBC 1. Have always hated him.

[Van Halen]

I've had chance to read my emails and listen to my messages now and it's all very interesting. As promised this is what I've been told.

Last night I said, 'two's company, three's a crowd..... Four is getting cluttered!'

Well, there are now 4 separate factors involved with the deal.

1. Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

2. DIC

3. A fans representative

4. Hicks's other investors from the U.S.

To summarise:

Gillett has been unwell and unable to keep up with the unfolding events. I don't know the severity of his ill health but Hicks has taken the lead in pushing his partner towards a sale. Irrespective of Gillett's health Hicks needs / wants a partner with significant 'liquid' cash behind them and so he's urging Gillett to quit. However, Hicks wants to hand pick the buyer. Understandably, Gillett's attitude has been negative to this line of approach and he's resentful about being dictated to. Gillett's preferred option in now DIC.

DIC have negotiated a fee with Gillett exclusively and he's agreed the sale price. As a courtesy DIC have included Hicks in the negotiations, understanding that he would be a likely partner in the short term. Hicks has reluctantly taken part in the negotiations and feels very threatened by their looming presence. Remember, he wants to keep control. He came around to the idea of letting them have 49% but wanted to understand what their involvement would be. Obviously, DIC want to finance the club (Hicks can't match their spending predictions) and install an independent fans representative to the board.

Hicks feels threatened by DIC in isolation, he fears what control he can exert over the cub, even if he owns 51%. Add a fans representative into the mix (Hicks is very aware of our (the fans) opinions towards him) and he feels he'd be a lame duck. Remember Hicks wants to keep control!

So, in a frantic attempt to strengthen his position HIcks has gone back to the U.S. to work on 3 finance packages. 1. Funding a buyout of Gillett himself. 2. Finding a rich partner. 3. Doing a very complicated deal with the banks for them to own a portion of the club and finance it over the next 25 years. At the moment, the most likely and well received option has been securing an uber-rich west coast investor - someone with a huge venture capital record and some involvement with U.S. based sports.

As we stand today the door is still open to DIC to bid for Gillett's entire 50% and shut Hicks out. After placing this offer Hicks would have 90 days to match it. DIC won't improve the initial cash offer to Gillett by very much but this should be enough to preclude Hicks after 90 days. DIC could vastly improve the after sale sweeteners to Gillett. In which case Gillett will find a legal way to push the sale trough.

I'm also told that along with the Gillett plan DIC still haven't given up on buying Hicks out completely. Hoping that he realises that he's got know where left to go.... This all depends on Hicks not pulling off a master swoop and convincing his west coast friend to get involved.

This is far from over!

This may be far from over but it's getting very tiresome. I have just seen Rick Parry on the John Barnes show claiming that the selection process for investement took 3 years....the way things are going it will be another 3 years before DIC or somebody compatible comes along.

[JudgeRed]

I saw that too- hes cock end of the highest order

[AFII]

We could nominate an Est rep? AF!

I actually think that the board would need two fan representatives, one from Liverpool and one overseas. That way the board would get the whole picture from the fans.

[El Jefecito]

They're not even attempting to buy Hicks' shares, it's Gillett's they're trying to buy...so i dont even know why Hicks is involved in negotiations, let alone why he's apparently the leading negotiator, who is calling the shots.

Hicks is NOT negotiating price. He is negotiating the rights of a minority shareholder in the new make up. He has every right to do that and as RR says in that particular instance he has dic over the barrel.

[Craig_H]

GG has probably indicated that he will sell his stake to DIC, so Cu*t face had his reps go to to Dubai to start exploring a future partnership. That would tie in with what the press were saying to about a deal being struck between DIC and GG.

Yeah, this makes sense. But still, the only discussions hicks can cut short are those about a future partnership with DIC, not any discussions about selling GG's stake.

I dont see how Hicks has so much apparent power in a deal which he is technically not a part of.

[El Jefecito]

You've got to laugh haven't you? What a post, as poor as its gets.

I assume you have not objectively assessed all of her spouting in the press. She has clearly undermined the process.

[Pacman]

Yeah, this makes sense. But still, the only discussions hicks can cut short are those about a future partnership with DIC, not any discussions about selling GG's stake.

I dont see how Hicks has so much apparent power in a deal which he is technically not a part of.

I don't get that either.

At the end of the day Gillett wants out so surely if DIC offer him X amount of £'s for his stake then Hicks has to match that or Gillett id free to sell to whoever he wants.

Surely Hicks can't control what Gillett sells and to who?

[Lecter]

I dont think Hicks is as bad as people make out.

I have my reasons and probably will get hammered for saying what I did above.

The reasons are you are a fat cunt just like him

[Shaggy]

No mate- Breakfast telly. That gormless nonce on BBC 1. Have always hated him.

Ah yes, I know who you mean. I can picture him. Isn't he the son of John Hollins?

A timely ****ing boost?

[Parm]

Whether true or false, this whole mess is making us look like buffoons.