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    Fans Group Ready For Takeover Talks

    The fans' group hoping to buy Liverpool Football Club says it is preparing to approach the club's US owners in an attempt to discuss its intentions.

    Share Liverpool FC wants to buy the club through 100,000 fans paying £5,000 each for a club share.

    It now says it has £60m definitely pledged, and a potential further £55m from fans showing "strong interest".


    The US businessmen who own the club, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, have become unpopular with many fans

    The pair bought the football club in early 2007, but have reportedly fallen out.


    Great clubs, established social institutions, are being traded on the global capital markets, with no knowledge of the clubs
    Rogan Taylor, Share Liverpool FC

    Terms of the takeover mean that each can block any move by the other to sell their holding without the other's specific approval.

    Dubai International Capital has recently revived its interest in the club but to take control, it must buy all of one man's shares along with at least some of the other man's.

    'Overwhelming response'

    "We have got to approach the current owners, that is what we have to do now," Rogan Taylor, who is spearheading Share Liverpool FC, told the BBC.

    "I can't say how, or through whom, at present, but we will be approaching them to try and set up talks, and let them know our intentions".

    He said that since the fan website was launched there had been a flurry of activity - with contact from more than 200 countries.

    "Our initial website was a marketing tool to check the level of interest out there," he said.

    Graffiti in Liverpool



    Fans have expressed dissatisfaction with the current ownership

    "We have been overwhelmed by the response, and now we have to keep things moving forward quickly."

    As well as those expressing a "definite" and "strong" interest in making an investment, there are 13,000 other would-be backers who say they cannot raise £5,000.

    "We will be contacting them about possible group memberships, where fans and family come together to buy one share, and have a nominated shareholder they all agree on," Mr Taylor said.

    Non-profit making structure

    Share Liverpool has set up a steering committee - made up of people with legal, business, accountancy and other commercial experience - to formulate a constitution setting out the way forward.

    A company is being formed as an "industrial and provident society" structure, Mr Taylor said.

    And after talks with the Financial Services Authority, the set-up is close to being ratified.

    "The constitution is designed to deliver a non-profit making structure, and a means of electing an executive board, which would run the company for four years." Mr Taylor said.

    While the board would be the club executive, there would also be a fan parliament of 100 delegates to scrutinise the board's actions.

    "Fans will not be able to say what cheques are written, or which players are bought and sold," Mr Taylor added.

    "The board will have executive control for hiring and firing, buying and selling, lending and spending."

    'Sophisticated'

    Any borrowing to build a new stadium for Liverpool FC would be done against future revenues a new stadium would bring, such Arsenal did to finance its Emirates Stadium move.

    Mr Taylor added that other regulatory issues needed to be overcome, partly because the group is asking fans in so many overseas countries to send money.

    Meanwhile a fighting fund has been established, and the website is being reconstructed to become "more sophisticated" in preparation for future moves.

    "What has been going on at the club, regardless of who owns it, is a vivid illustration of the pattern of ownership in the UK," Mr Taylor said.

    "Great clubs, established social institutions, are being traded on the global capital markets, with no knowledge of the clubs.

    "Fans offer everlasting support and should be given the chance now to own an everlasting share."

    #2
    I just can't see this working. How are they gonna raise enough to buy out T&G, let alone pay off the debts, fund transfers and the rest.
    Oh I don't know.

    Comment


      #3
      I think it's pretty poor timing issuing a press release like that on a day when it has no chance of being the top story.

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by dom9 View Post
        I just can't see this working. How are they gonna raise enough to buy out T&G, let alone pay off the debts, fund transfers and the rest.
        i agree and have thought this from day one
        i own everton fans on the internet....that's what i do

        Comment


          #5
          Originally posted by dom9 View Post
          I just can't see this working. How are they gonna raise enough to buy out T&G, let alone pay off the debts, fund transfers and the rest.
          Originally posted by PTP View Post
          i agree and have thought this from day one
          As do i, the amount of cash they have, & the pledged amounts are so far off what's needed. Just don't see it becoming a reality, no matter how well intentioned.

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            #6
            i 100% agree with you.

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              #7
              So i take it myself, Jaymo, Redrascal, Matt and Dom9 are going to chip in together and buy a share then
              i own everton fans on the internet....that's what i do

              Comment


                #8
                Only if I get the final word on transfer decisions!

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                  #9
                  No way I get the final word on transfers or I am pulling the plug!
                  i own everton fans on the internet....that's what i do

                  Comment


                    #10
                    **** you then

                    [dragonsden]I dont think that deal represents value for money and for that reason, I'm out.[/dragonsden]

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Originally posted by Matt View Post
                      **** you then

                      [dragonsden]I dont think that deal represents value for money and for that reason, I'm out.[/dragonsden]
                      - see the scheme has failed already and we hadn't even started
                      i own everton fans on the internet....that's what i do

                      Comment


                        #12
                        You shouldnt have gone making outrageous demands then

                        Stick to measuring pictures or whatever it is you do

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Originally posted by Matt View Post
                          You shouldnt have gone making outrageous demands then

                          Stick to measuring pictures or whatever it is you do
                          - i'm still trying to measure that ******* cunt plan - gave up yesterday as was concentrating on the game - gave up today as i was planning(dreaming of) my future as a shareholder of Liverpool Football Club
                          i own everton fans on the internet....that's what i do

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Originally posted by PTP View Post
                            So i take it myself, Jaymo, Redrascal, Matt and Dom9 are going to chip in together and buy a share then
                            OK - I've got a spare fiver in my overdaft somewhere.
                            Oh I don't know.

                            Comment


                              #15
                              I still think its stupid

                              There is no way that they can buy out the Yanks, Build a massive stadium, deal with the loans used to pay for players over the last year, find loads of more money to fund player buys this summer to keep up with our rivals etc etc etc

                              Its just not possible. If anything it would be a backward step, we would not be able to compete in the transfer market at all

                              DIC are our best bet just now

                              Comment

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