No new Liverpool stadium until recession ends

[el matador]

LONDON (AP) — Liverpool’s new stadium will not be built until the global recession is over and credit becomes available to finance the $800 million project.
The 60,000-seat replacement for Liverpool’s historic but crumbling Anfield ground was due to have opened next year, but the economic downturn forced co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr. to halt building work last August.
The American owners had said it would be a "short-term delay," but they are still not able to put a date on building work resuming.
"Construction on the stadium will begin when the current contraction in the banking industry ends and the global financial markets re-establish their equilibrium," Liverpool’s new managing director Christian Purslow said.
Purslow hopes the stadium on the adjacent Stanley Park will be ready in time for 2018 to stage World Cup matches should England’s bid to stage the showcase event prove successful.
"The centerpiece is to deliver a world-class football ground that everyone can be proud of, a new home for the club with a stadium of at least 60,000 seats, giving the best possible match experience," Purslow said.
Liverpool has been financially hamstrung by the economics of 45,000-capacity Anfield, where there are just 34 luxury suites and few amenities to generate extra funding to enhance the squad.
Manchester United’s Old Trafford can welcome 76,000 fans and Arsenal moved from 38,000-seat Highbury into 60,000-seat Emirates Stadium in July 2006.
Liverpool vice-captain Jamie Carragher has said he is embarrassed and irritated by the delays in replacing the stadium.
Millions of pounds were written-off when existing plans to replace Anfield were ditched after Liverpool was bought by the Hicks and Gillett in 2007 so architects from Hicks’ native Texas could design a more spectacular stadium.
031632 sep 09GMT

I have to say im not surprised as the owners simply dont have the finance to take the project forward out of their own resources.

What does surprise me is the quote from Christian Purslow

"Construction on the stadium will begin when the current contraction in the banking industry ends and the global financial markets re-establish their equilibrium," Liverpool’s new managing director Christian Purslow said.

This quote seems like it has come from a banker. Its not something that moores would ever say and even parrys mumblings wouldnt stretch that far.

Does anybody know any real info about this guy purslow as im not entirely convinced that his appointment is as genuine as it seems to be.

[Neil Young]

I have to say im not surprised as the owners simply dont have the finance to take the project forward out of their own resources.

What does surprise me is the quote from Christian Purslow

"Construction on the stadium will begin when the current contraction in the banking industry ends and the global financial markets re-establish their equilibrium," Liverpool’s new managing director Christian Purslow said.

This quote seems like it has come from a banker. Its not something that moores would ever say and even parrys mumblings wouldnt stretch that far.

Does anybody know any real info about this guy purslow as im not entirely convinced that his appointment is as genuine as it seems to be.

He is a banker - well, financier - so it's not surprising he sounds like one.

What do you mean by 'genuine?'

[el matador]

He is a banker - well, financier - so it's not surprising he sounds like one.

What do you mean by 'genuine?'

appointed by hicks and gillette or by rbs and wachovia ?

[Neil Young]

appointed by hicks and gillette or by rbs and wachovia ?

I see what you mean.

I think he was appointed by Hicks and Gillett although I suspect his background made him equally attractive to the banks and, given his links to the city and long-time support of the club (apparently), the fans also.

I don't think private equity experts are known for taking account of anything more than the interests of their investors and, particularly, themselves, so I wouldn't hold out too much hope the guy is going to put the club's interests ahead of his employers'. Still, we can live in hope - at least he's probably got the background and skills to do his best for the club against these plundering owners, if the fancy takes him to do it. But that's a big 'if.'

[Nicey]

what i meant was they have both proved themselves to be popor when in charge of our club. could have been worse i agree but they (moores in particular) took the club from the very top to saddling us with the yanks.

Look I kind of agree with you on Moores, he does not seem like the brightest guy in the room, but Parry is no slouch. That said for somebody who negotiated such exceptionally good commercial deals for the Leauge he was horrendous for his beloved Liverpool FC and thats not conjecture I have that firsthand from some liverpool partners. Which is one area you have to give credit to the yanks, commercially they are very much on the money. Have a feeling things will turn out a lot better than people think ... in terms of spending .. they just about spend 40 million on 2 players .. not counting wages signing on bonus ect not to mention the renewing of several key players on vastly increased deals ... it all adds up ... I have to say I am not surprised they are not building the stadium .. I think our timing is very very unfortunate. I think you cannot say they have not backed the Boss .. in terms of signings .

[FatTony]

Look I kind of agree with you on Moores, he does not seem like the brightest guy in the room, but Parry is no slouch. That said for somebody who negotiated such exceptionally good commercial deals for the Leauge he was horrendous for his beloved Liverpool FC and thats not conjecture I have that firsthand from some liverpool partners. Which is one area you have to give credit to the yanks, commercially they are very much on the money. Have a feeling things will turn out a lot better than people think ... in terms of spending .. they just about spend 40 million on 2 players .. not counting wages signing on bonus ect not to mention the renewing of several key players on vastly increased deals ... it all adds up ... I have to say I am not surprised they are not building the stadium .. I think our timing is very very unfortunate. I think you cannot say they have not backed the Boss .. in terms of signings .

40m on two players? We had £30+ from Alonso and the Johnson deal was half from what Portsmouth owed us, or am I mistaken here? Plus we had £15m back from Keane last year.

Even the Torres purchase was made using the money from previous sales.

2009 dealings so far
Spent Total 38, 500, 000
Aquilani 20,000,000
Johnson 17,000,000
Kyrgiakos 1,500,000

Income 38,500,000
alonso 30,000,000
keane 15,000,000
Arbeloa 3,500,000

Johnson actually cost us less this season with the money already owed.

[Nicey]

whats wrong with balancing the books ?

[FatTony]

whats wrong with balancing the books ?

There's nothing wrong with balancing the books, but that statement was a little misleading.

[Neil Young]

whats wrong with balancing the books ?

I'm far from convinced they're balancing LFC's books. It seems far more likely they're taking money out of the club to finance interest payments on our massive debt, i.e. to fund their purchase of the club. They might be balancing their own books but for some reason I really don't give a sh*t about that.

[The_weatherman]

I'm far from convinced they're balancing LFC's books. It seems far more likely they're taking money out of the club to finance interest payments on our massive debt, i.e. to fund their purchase of the club. They might be balancing their own books but for some reason I really don't give a sh*t about that.

Well put.

[el matador]

I'm far from convinced they're balancing LFC's books. It seems far more likely they're taking money out of the club to finance interest payments on our massive debt, i.e. to fund their purchase of the club. They might be balancing their own books but for some reason I really don't give a sh*t about that.

if the stadium isnt finished by 2018 then by then we may be in the the vauxhall conference and hicks and gillette will be long gone.

There's no way we can meet repayments of £40m per season and remain competitive. We may sign silva next year but torres will be sold to fund him.

Its just isnt good enough.

[Redspin]

My concern

• We do not qualify for the CL next season.
• Citeh do.
• Citeh attract some knew players because of this and have the money to complete the deals.
• We are in the UEFA Cup and do not attract players because of this, and do not have the money to purchase them anyway.
• Citeh, with their CL experience and new players cement their top 4 position and again finish in the top 4.
• We fail to qualify again.
• With limited funds and no CL football, our best players see no light at the end of the tunnel and become unhappy at LFC, seeking moves away from the club.

Not a great impossibility.

You can sleep easy. City will finish about 7th - 6th if they have a really good season

[Mono]

Cowboys ted! There all a bunch of bloody cowboys!

[Neil Young]

[DannyMan2006]

You can sleep easy. City will finish about 7th - 6th if they have a really good season

I think they will do very well after seeing their start. They were dazzling going forward at times last year but are now solid at the back with it.

Another plus for them is that they are a very tall and physichal team and will not be bullied by the low ranked teams during general play or at set pieces. I don't rate Lescott that highly as a CB but he'll do and is a great asset at set pieces, as is Adebayor/Santa Cruz depending on which one they start with. Add to that list Toure and Micah Richards and that's four straight away who can cause problems at set pieces.

In all honesty that allows them to play poor in games and get results. On the flip side you can look at us and we can dominate games and get out done by a set piece.

Still think we'll come above them mind.