Liverpool FC Forum

[Redman in wales]

In addition to the takeover thread, this is taken from the official site:

On the day George Gillett and Tom Hicks confirm they have had an offer for Liverpool FC accepted by David Moores, they give their first interview to the club's official website.

First of all, why Liverpool Football Club?
 
George Gillett: Firstly, we're not going to sit here and pretend to be the most knowledgeable of Liverpool fans because that's clearly not true. I can say, though, that our families are big football supporters. We have been watching European football for several years and on a recent visit to this country we were advised about the possibility of meeting with the Chairman and Rick Parry.
 
Tom Hicks: I have been in the sports business for 12 years and with 162 baseball games and 82 hockey games a year, I was not looking for another team. George called me about a month ago and explained what he thought was the vision and the opportunity at Liverpool. I have followed the English Premier League from afar because some of my business friends are ardent fans of the game. When I looked into this over the past month I was awe-struck with the history and the true passion of the fans compared to other sports I am involved with. The Texas Rangers have been around for 36 years and the Dallas Stars have been around for 13 years, so to have a chance of getting involved with a team with more than a hundred years of history and with fervent fans is something which really excited me. After a couple of weeks I told George I was seriously ready to be his partner. We came over last week to do some due diligence and to meet David and Rick. We went to the West Ham game which was a good win and then the following night we went to see the new Arsenal stadium when they played Tottenham. We made our pitch to David and the board and, fortunately for us, they accepted it.
 
George Gillett: Tom and I have been involved in sports for a long time. When you sit in our little country you get an unusual perspective and probably an incorrect one, because we think our sports are pretty popular. Then you come over here and see the tribal aspects of the fans and their affection and support for the team and realise it's a game which is watched by billions. You quickly see this is the most popular sport in the world and that this is one of the most popular clubs in the world. To have the opportunity of getting involved in this is a rare privilege.
 
It's a well managed club but we believe we bring some experience which the management can draw on to make things even better. Tom and I are a little put off that people assume everything is about money, because we really hope we have some ideas as well as some capital.
 
Tom Hicks: We have both been involved in building and modifying new stadiums so we think we can bring a lot of good ideas to the work which has already been done which will be to the benefit of the fans and the club.
 
The reason any businessman goes into sport is because they have a passion for winning. Despite all the success I've had in life, nothing has given me more satisfaction on an emotional level than winning the Stanley Cup in 1999 and being able to get my hands on the trophy. At that moment my smile touched both ears.
 
It's been an uncertain time for the fans over the last few weeks, so how can you reassure them that the club they cherish so much is moving into safe hands?
 
Tom Hicks: I don't think David Moores would have chosen us to be the new custodians of this football club unless he was convinced we share that same sense of responsibility. We view this as a very long term process. Most people who come into sport do make mistakes but we have been in the business a long time and we know the importance of stability in terms of the team, the players and the fans. We are fortunate here that with Rick and Rafa we already have stability.
 
What do you hope to achieve with Liverpool Football Club?
 
George Gillett: We had the privilege of spending some time last night with Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher and they delivered us the message. They are all about winning and all about the passion from the fans. They asked us three specific questions:
They wanted continuity of management with David and Rick. They have enormous regard for them. They also spoke extremely warmly about Rafa and made us aware that they feel this man is truly one of the great geniuses in the recent history of the sport. They wanted to communicate to us the feeling from the dressing room was of great respect for the management team.
Secondly, they wanted to talk about players and to encourage us to support Rick and Rafa's efforts in building the team.
They were also clear with their views on the stadium. They made us aware the sound, the energy and the passion that Anfield provides needs to be incorporated into the design of the new stadium.
They were the three messages they wanted us to hear and we heard them loud and clear.
 
Did you understand what Jamie Carragher was saying?
 
George Gillett: We did! He's definitely a scouser, that's for sure. The first thing the two players did was give us their shirts with a nice message so that was a special moment for us.
 
You were determined to get hold of this football club, weren't you?
 
George Gillett: We were. I think both Tom and I have learnt that it's a great honour and a rare privilege to be considered to hold one of the greatest assets in sport in trust. To have that privilege is really special.
 
I don't know how to properly communicate how much care David Moores put into making this decision. He questioned us aggressively about our commitment, our passion and our willingness to help take the club forward. He wants to ensure we can re-emerge as the greatest team in the Premiership and be fully competitive in Europe. The interview process was rigorous, it was not foregone and it was not about money. It was about our passion and our understanding of the fans of this club.
 
David is an amazing man and this club is his life. This was the most difficult decision of his life because every single fibre in his body is in this club.
 
Tom Hicks: This club has been in David's family for fifty years and when we left his house it was a very poignant moment because there were tears in his eyes. He has agreed to be a Life President at the club and he will still be sitting in the directors' seats at Anfield. From the players' point of view, the best thing that can happen is that they feel nothing has changed except for a new stadium being built and more aggressive support in the transfer market.
 
George Gillett: The less the fans see any change the better for this club. Neither Tom or I are high-profile. We are both hugely supportive of our families and of our franchises but the less people write about us and the more they write about the fans, the challenges and the opportunities then the better for everybody.
 
It sounds like David has really put you through it in terms of making sure you were the right people to take over…
 
George Gillett: Very much so. There were two processes and ultimately he had to make two difficult decisions. The club felt they had two very well qualified potential buyers and it's no secret that one had extraordinarily deep pockets whereas ours are deep but not that deep. I think they correctly chose the other party and we were not offended by that.
 
On the other hand, if there's any trait that the Gillett's and the Hicks's have then it's patience and stubbornness. In hockey we have a saying that it's really tough to score if you're not in front of the net. We stayed in front of the net and we tried not to do anything which was offensive or negative. We wanted to reinforce our respect for what David and the team had built and ultimately we were given a second chance because the Hicks's joined us. There's no doubt that we increased our price because they were with us and enabled us to have the capital to be more aggressive.
 
There were reports you were interested in a ground share…
 
Tom Hicks: I can categorically say we have no interest in a ground share with any other team. We are going to build the finest team for the finest stadium in the Premier League and that is Liverpool.
 
George Gillett: I don't know how this story got started. It didn't get started with us. I look forward to meeting the officials from Everton some day because we are both in this wonderful city, but I have never authorised anyone to talk or act on our behalf relative to the possibility of ground sharing. I have no idea where this has come from. It was not true and we can categorically deny it.
 
The first time I met Rick Parry I asked him the question and that's the only time I can recall the topic coming up. He looked me in the eye and said that if I ever brought that topic up in a serious way again then I could have his resignation because he wouldn't be involved with or support that kind of discussion. That was very clear and so the subject never came up again from our side.
 
More recently someone close to the club said that if the topic did come up then it was the surest way possible for us to be lynched.
 
We want to build the greatest facility for the players and the fans and make this the best location for players to play and for fans to come.
 
Can we bring the title here under your ownership?
 
George Gillett: I really hope so. Rick has told me of a Shankly saying that 'first is first and second is nowhere' and that sounds good to us.

[RedBlood]

sounds like they got good intentions and respect our club and history

but yanks grow up being taught how to butter up there public

[stmichael]

well i'm impressed. they didn't say "soccer" once

[tommycockles]

It'sobviousy that these guys are very intelligent and obviosuly know ehat to say but you can't help gettingexcited about the next chapter in Liverpol Football Club. Yes it'd be great to keep Anfield but to be the best we need to compete and we're already behind the Mancs an Arsenal with their grounds and Chelsea with their deep pockets.

Some of the exciting comments were:
Tom Hicks: We have both been involved in building and modifying new stadiums so we think we can bring a lot of good ideas to the work which has already been done which will be to the benefit of the fans and the club.

Tom Hicks: I can categorically say we have no interest in a ground share with any other team. We are going to build the finest team for the finest stadium in the Premier League and that is Liverpool.

The finest stadium in the Premiership??!! Does this mean they're going to redesign the plans as the proposed ground certaily won't be in it's current form!!

[tommycockles]

well i'm impressed. they didn't say "soccer" once

 

Yeah- i hope they don't wear those huge foam hands when suporting the team!!

[66-1112520797]

I know its their first official interview, and that they've got to reasure and try and relax anyone associated with the club. But TBH I couldnt find any fault in that interview and AS LONG AS THEY STAND BY THERE CAREFULLY CHOSEN WORDS I"M FINE WITH THAT.

[RUSHIE#9]

Hopefully everything they've said in that interview they are going to stand-by. If they do I can see a very bright future on the near horizon for Liverpool Football Club. Since it was announced that Hicks was involved a few people from across the pond have said he has always been willing to splash the cash to deliver success. Now like most true Reds fans I don't want to see us becoming the new chavski and buying the title but we certainly do need to be able to flex some kind of financial muscle in the transfer market and maybe Tom Hicks & George Gillett can now help the manager do that.

They've eased some of my fears in that interview so lets show them what a special club this really is by supporting them as they guide LFC on a new journey and a new era...








...shit the American corniness is already kicking in!!  

[Sabre]

George Gillett: Firstly, we're not going to sit here and pretend to be the most knowledgeable of Liverpool fans because that's clearly not true. I can say, though, that our families are big football supporters

Would it be nitpicky if I asked what teams support their families?


Words are words for me. Facts are facts. I will sit down and watch. As far as they keep their influence in the money stuff and they LET the whole group of footie personal in LFC doing their work as they always did, with their values, It will be fine for me. I just hope them not to be the kind of tycoons that decide that a certain glamourous player should be in LFC. As long as the footie decissions are taken by the LFC footie personel exclusively, no problemo.

[Roger Red Hat]

has the press coference been done yet and what was said?

[RUSHIE#9]

BREAKIN NEWS:

Tom Hicks: 'Liverpool Franchise to be now Know as the LIVERPOOL REDS!!'   

[Anfield rapper]

Fair play to them. I've just seen the interview and they came across very genuine. They didn't try and make out that they have both been massive liverpool fans and explained how everything has worked out.

[tommycockles]

Having just finished watching the press conference i have to say i'm pretty happy. Gillette comes across very well and seems to lead the two of them in terms of answering the questions, Hicks doesn't appear quite as 'quick' as Gillette but seems a nice guy- in fact both of them have a good sense of humour and are keen to ensure that yes they want to make Liverpool a profitable business- but that will be done by winning things. They reckon that they're both already very sucessfull so money's not as important as winning, tradition and leaving a legacy etc

Apparently they already have their designers looking at the new stadium plans and are seeing where they are able to improve things within the plans and permissions that have already been granted and say that they will do this and digging will begin in the next 50 days or so (as otherwise they will lose eu and local development grants). They were keento express that they've got a lot of experience in not only building football stadiums but some of the most impressive buildings in the World and want to bring that experience into the new ground.

THey were pressed on the naming rights issue and although Gillette (as he did most of the talking) said that if they were offered enough to buy a top top player each year then they would consider this but i think that once parry's had a word (and the fans) he doesn't seem the type not to reconsider- in fact he came across a lot better than i expected.

[Bad Bob]

Well, if they go back on any of these promises they'll have Stevie and Carra to answer to!  It sounds like the lads--as well as Parry and Moores--have sorted these gents out with respect to Liverpool's traditions and ambitions.  If they do as they say and build us a great new stadium, stump up the cash for Parry and Rafa to do their thing and stay in the background, I'll be very, very happy.

[Montrealer]

Heya Lads and Ladies,
I just want to say that I've supported Liverpool ever since I was 7, right around the same time as I started supporting the Montreal Canadiens (my hometown hockey team).
When you talk about clubs with history, there aren't two better ones in any sport. When Gillette took over the Canadiens from Molson, the Montreal brewery who'd owned them for decades, I was pretty worried.
Truth be told, they've been very good. Just last week, Gillette offered to lend Bob Gainey (Canadiens general manager) his lumberjack boots so that he could start 'kicking some asses' in our underperforming team. I think this shows that they are not only interested in winning, but are not going to start meddling in internal affairs (ie calling the shots).
I'm thrilled to see my two all-time favourite teams together, and I just want to tell you all that the Gillette gang have been very respectful to club history (they've started retiring the numbers of some of the greatest players in our history -an NHL tradition that our previous owners ignored) and to the fans.

Good luck with the new owners, I'll be cheering from Montreal!

[CardinalRed]

I'm glad that the history of our Club has been impressed upon them and that they seem to have responded to it.
Good move getting Stevie and JC in to speak with them..... These are exciting times for LFC!!!