Saudi to buy 50%??

[Vermilion]

Heard it all before though haven't we.

This Didato is some guy, he likes to stir the waters, he backtracked on what he said after the Prince visited Anfield, now this.

I wish they would just keep it to themselves, do the deal or don't do the deal, but tell us when it's done, or don't if it doesn't get done, which will likely be the case once more if Hicks has anything to do with it.

[dom9]

Why should I:

a) believe any of this?
b) believe that if it were true, that they would be any good for the club either?

[saveferris]

The quotes from Didato were from the weekend before last werent they?

[Roboklopp]

Pretty interesting that bbc one mind.

[RoadEnd]

Let's hope they don't bring the Mutaween over to steward the match days.

[SB]

from the bbc


Saudis consider Liverpool offer
By Simon Austin

George Gillett and Prince Faisal
Prince Faisal (right) has been a recent guest of Gillett's at Anfield

Prince Faisal could bid for a major stake in Liverpool but has concerns about the club's debt and relationship between its owners, a key aide says.

Co-owner George Gillett will travel to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to hold further talks with the Saudi Royal.

"His Highness's shareholding could go from anything from nought to 100%," Barry Didato told BBC Sport.

"But he cannot be seen as a solution to the debt or problems in the existing relationship between the owners."

The relationship between Gillett and his co-owner Tom Hicks has been strained for some time.

Each has a 50% stake in the Premier League club, yet neither can sell shares without the other's approval.

His Highness is not a marriage counsellor

Barry Didato
Head of strategic investments, F6

Prince Faisal, whose full name is Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdullah al-Saud, has only been holding talks with Gillett so far.

And Didato - director of strategic investments for the Saudi prince's investment vehicle, F6 - said the pair had established a "chemistry and shared vision".

The relationship between Hicks and Gillett was a concern though, Didato admitted.

"His Highness would not want to get involved in the (problems between the pair), he is not a marriage counsellor," he said.

Didato added that the Saudis has concerns about the high debt levels at the club.

"The debt has to be at a manageable level before Prince Faisal would invest and the current level is high," Didato said.

"He cannot be looked to as someone who is going to clean up the balance sheet - Gillett has to deal with this."

Didato said Prince Faisal was flexible about how big a stake he might take at Anfield.

"His Highness does not need to be a majority shareholder and a takeover has not been his focus," he said.

Last week Hicks and Gillett issued a statement in response to reports that Prince Faisal was ready to bid for a 50% stake in Liverpool.

The duo admitted they were looking to attract new investment to the club but added: "The process is at an early stage, there is no agreement with any party and reports to the contrary are wholly inaccurate."

F6 has already signed a memorandum of understanding with Liverpool which will lead to the creation of football academies in North Africa and the Middle East and the deal also covered the possible establishment of a Nascar franchise in the area.

And Didato insisted Prince Faisal's involvement with Liverpool would only be a good thing for the club and its fans.

"His Highness is an extraordinary man who is passionate about football," he said. "He has a tremendous respect for Liverpool and their fanbase.

"He only wants what is best for them and is one of those rare breeds of investor who is in it for the long haul."

Sounds too good to be true.

Was just about to post the same

I hope that wasn't FT's artistic license at work

[SB]

Why should I:

a) believe any of this?
b) believe that if it were true, that they would be any good for the club either?

Because

a) your fed up with the way the yanks are running the club and cling to any possibility that we could be rid of them or

b) you believe that the glass is half full and not half empty

[dom9]

Because

a) your fed up with the way the yanks are running the club and cling to any possibility that we could be rid of them or

b) you believe that the glass is half full and not half empty

Not really.

I just don't see anything of any substance here. Lot's of mouth and not very much in the way of trousers. If I was buying a company, I wouldn't be talking talking to the BBC about it until after it was finalised.

It's unprofessional, and frankly, amature.

Is this prince bloke any better than the cunt at Portsmouth?

[Fierce]

Is this prince bloke any better than the cunt at Portsmouth?

He's certainly a ****load richer

[SB]

Not really.

I just don't see anything of any substance here. Lot's of mouth and not very much in the way of trousers. If I was buying a company, I wouldn't be talking talking to the BBC about it until after it was finalised.

It's unprofessional, and frankly, amature.

Is this prince bloke any better than the **** at Portsmouth?

None of us can really answer that at this stage. We just assume that he has to be better than what we've got.

[dom9]

None of us can really answer that at this stage. We just assume that he has to be better than what we've got.

I'd rather not make any assumptions. They have a habit of backfiring. A bit like Rafa says, people should deal with the 'facts'.

[SB]

As I said, time will tell.I'm over GG moaning in the paper on a regular basis and undermining the gaffer.

[Aza]

As I said, time will tell.I'm over GG moaning in the paper on a regular basis and undermining the gaffer.

Who gives a **** what Gary Glitter says anyway

[DannyMan2006]

Who gives a **** what Gary Glitter says anyway

[Jas]

http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news...cle185195.html
Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has paved the way for Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Abdullah al-Saud to buy George Gillett’s stake in the club.

But Hicks has made it clear he will be staying at Anfield, whether or not his fellow American Gillett sells up.

Two weeks after MirrorFootball reported that Gillett had opened negotiations with the Saudi prince, we can now reveal that Hicks has given his blessing to a new partner coming in – if the deal is right.

Hicks and Gillett both hold the power of veto with regard to any sale of shares in Liverpool.

And Hicks blocked a previous attempt by Gillett to push through a deal with the Dubai investment group DIC because he felt his own position at Anfield would become marginalised.

But this time the Texas-based billionaire is receptive to the possibility of approving Gillett’s get-out strategy.

A source close to Hicks confirmed: “Tom would be open to considering a partnership with someone willing to buy George Gillett’s shares.

“It is still the case that the sale of any shares in Liverpool FC requires the other partner’s consent.

“Tom has made it clear, though, that he still has a long-term commitment to the club.”

Prince Faisal has stated that he is willing to pay up to £350million for Gillett’s 50 per cent share of the Merseyside club – but that figure will depend on Liverpool’s owners substantially slashing debts which are more than £300m.

Gillett is scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia this week for more talks with the prince (right) and his advisers.

And he will now take with him assurances from his co-owner that a deal can be done.

The relationship between Hicks and Gillett has once again deteriorated in recent months – even though they jointly instructed investment bankers Merrill Lynch to search for new backers.

The Hicks camp were not impressed with Gillett’s thinly-veiled criticism of manager Rafa Benitez last week.

Gillett told the fans to place the blame for an inconsistent start to the season – which has seen three defeats in the Premier League and one in the Champions League – on the shoulders of the manager rather than criticise the owners for a lack of player investment. He also appeared to criticise Hicks for claiming work on a new stadium at Stanley Park would begin inside 60 days – when it was actually Gillett who made the statement.

Benitez, however, retains the total backing of Hicks. The source said: “Rafa has Tom’s full support.

“Losing two early games was disappointing but perhaps it was a wake-up call because the team then had six straight wins before losing at Chelsea, which is always a tough match.

“There is no panic because there seems to be a lot more balance in the Premier League this year. As for the stadium plan, there is a YouTube clip that proves George Gillett said a spade would be in the ground in 60 days, not Tom.

“In fairness to George that was the plan, but it was discovered two weeks later that the plans were seven years old and obsolete and when new designs and approval were completed. then came the credit meltdown.

“The plan now is to reduce bank debt and have a strong balance sheet to facilitate obtaining new stadium finance when the markets reopen in a year or two.”