Liverpool FC Forum

[NANNY RED]

Exclusive by Chris Bascombe

LIVERPOOL will be bought for £350million by Dubai International Capital to end the club's American nightmare.
The Arabs are likely to make their move as early as the end of the week to oust owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

The Americans, who have had a tempestuous relationship with manager Rafa Benitez, controversially want to dump their debt on Anfield as they seek to re-finance to the tune of £350m. DIC had been negotiating with Gillett in a bid to oust Hicks but now they are determined to buy out BOTH Americans.

Hicks and Gillett can still sign a re-finance package with the Royal Bank of Scotland and American bank Wachovia.

That might give them six months breathing space but could cost them millions and insiders say it would only strengthen DIC's resolve to kick them out.

Debt

The last thing club insiders want is for them to maintain control, even for a few more months.

An Anfield source said: "In a strange way DIC may think it's worth waiting for the Americans' to refinance because it will lessen the value of the club because of the level of debt.

"But the best thing that can happen is for the pair of them to get out now. It's clear the old board has made a huge mistake selling to these two."

Just been on the news Saint in the ticker tape there offering 350 as your article says

[account deleted by request]

It makes me wonder. Any supporter leaving Anfield after a match and offering there opinion to a journalist, would that make them an Anfield Source? And reports suggesting, does a memo from your boss reading "I reckon DIC are gonna make a £500 mill bid for liverpool, go with that one" count as a report?

It baffles me how you can question Bascombes sources after he got it spot on with the exclusive that blew the lid on the whole Rafa business. Like I said before just keep your eyes tight shut, sing loudly and avoid smelling the coffee 

[Kharhaz]

It makes me wonder. Any supporter leaving Anfield after a match and offering there opinion to a journalist, would that make them an Anfield Source? And reports suggesting, does a memo from your boss reading "I reckon DIC are gonna make a £500 mill bid for liverpool, go with that one" count as a report?

It baffles me how you can question Bascombes sources after he got it spot on with the exclusive that blew the lid on the whole Rafa business. Like I said before just keep your eyes tight shut, sing loudly and avoid smelling the coffee 

Clinging to hope and desperation this side ! A lot of this has been hyped up but from what ive read there is a problem but I dont think its as severe as most peoples reactions. I think a lot of the problems are reserved for hicks, it would appear he is having doubts all round. But I still stick with my mistrust of the press, its all sources and reports. I'll empty my coffee jug !

[matrix]

Dubai International Capital set to pounce with £500m Liverpool bid
Emirate's investment arm keen to capitalise on Anfield turmoil after falling short 12 months ago
By Paul Walker
Published: 20 January 2008
Dubai International Capital – the investment arm of the Dubai Government – is preparing to launch a £500 million bid to buy Liverpool, according to reports yesterday, with an offer in the process of being made to the club 's US co-owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks.

Initially it was thought that DIC, bankrolled by Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, were interested in buying Hicks' 50 per cent share. However, it is claimed DIC are now set to make an offer for the complete buy-out of the American pair.

DIC were close to their own takeover of the Anfield club 12 months ago before the Reds ' then chairman, David Moores, decided to go with the American investors instead. On Thursday a spokesman for Hicks insisted neither of the owners was considering selling their share and both remained fully committed to the club.

Gillett and Hicks ' reign, however, has caused turmoil on and off the pitch, and DIC have maintained their interest in becoming involved, despite the previous deal 's collapse.

Hicks has been heavily criticised by fans following disagreements with the manager, Rafael Benitez, and for his admission that talks were held with Jürgen Klinsmann about taking over as manager. The US businessmen are trying to finalise the terms of a £350m loan that would enable them to repay money borrowed for the £218.9m takeover, repay loans used to sign players, and enable work to commence on a re-scaled plan for a new stadium in Stanley Park...

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


                                            david moores must be having nightmares selling to those lying yankie twa.ts...

                                            do us all a favour and fu.ck off from our club...         

[The Manhattan Project]

If DIC take over, Rick Parry can kiss his goodbye.

[Woollyback]

If DIC take over, Rick Parry can kiss his goodbye.

i hope so. he was the one who let laurel & hardy in, he presided over almost losing steven gerrard, he was in charge when we let owen go for peanuts and now he has evidently become a little poodle for gillett & hicks. i used to think he was a shrewd man but i'm happy to say i was wrong by a country mile

[matrix]

If DIC take over, Rick Parry can kiss his goodbye.

you can say that again project.......     ...

   you know what parry made his own bed...

   now he must lie in it...   

[The Manhattan Project]

If LFC are sold to DIC it will end quite possibly the most pointless period in the club's history.

Why would the club be sold to a buyer without absolute concrete proof that they had the resources to buy players and build a new stadium?

The only good that would have come out of the Hicks/Gillett era would have been the purchase of Torres, and even that came after players had been sold to raise the funds.

BTW- Has Rick Parry secured Masch in a permanent deal yet or is he still doing his hair?

This is the guy who almost caused Stevie G to leave the club.

[account deleted by request]

I have just been reading that the arrangement fee alone for the loan is going to cost £40million! Surely even H&G must think twice before committing to so much debt with interest payments of around £30million p.a. Then they have to find another £300million for the stadium, with no doubt another huge arrangement fee and yet more interest payments. I honestly can't see anyway how they can afford to refuse a reasonable offer from DIC.

Hicks and Gillett have encountered problems refinancing the £350m of debt they incurred in taking over the club, a loan that is due to expire at the end of next month. In an attempt to generate additional funds for the development of a new stadium, the pair have sought to transfer borrowings for which they are personally responsible on to the club.

While the Royal Bank of Scotland has indicated that it expects the refinancing deal to be concluded this week, senior club figures are concerned about the implications of a new loan. According to City sources, the arrangement fee could be as high as £40m, with annual interest payments of up to £30m depending on the percentage of personal equity injected into the deal by the Americans.

LINK

[The Manhattan Project]

It's on the BBC too.

DIC have made a bid for the club.

Gillett and Hicks should sell. With the whole Rafa thing and stadium debacle, I can't see any way they can continue in this current situation.

[nobybob]

Nobybob said:

How could you possibly think i was serious about an ASDA??
Its called an analogy

It clearly wasn't an analogy as you weren't drawing comparison with anything or anyone, it was a far-fetched attempt to propagate fears of what might happen. The example is so far fetched and unlikely to happen this season that it negates your original point, which was essentially; 'if we don't protest now, this is what might happen'. At the very least you have to make the consequence realistic, and within the context of this season, otherwise there is no point to your argument.

Look in my opinion G&H are gradually taking away all the things that make lfc great, and no that's not the physical building itself.
All i ask from who ever owns us is that they
1) Put their own money at risk, and risk is the key word here these yanks buy the club with loans then use the club as collateral. If things don't pan out "oh well the clubs all your RBS.    The yanks have nothing to lose and plenty to gain if the 1 billion pound valuation is anything to go by.

2) That the owners let the manager actually manage and don't interfear. These guys were telling RAFA he couldn't get players on a bossman for gods sake. This kind of thing should be left to ABRAMOVITCH at Chelsea.

3) Get us a new stadium big enough to bring down the huge waiting list for season tickets and in turn bring in more revenue . These fellas showed it to us , they unveiled it to the whole world not long ago only to say "oops we cant afford that anymore

4) i want owners that are open and don't lie to us at every turn. instead we have these t-ssers going behind the managers back like snakes in the grass asking some German who has never manages at club level for info about European club football, oh and "would you like RAFAS job"?? They swore black and blue that they would not sell any shares in LFC, only to admit later that at the time they were denying it they were actually in negotiations to sell 15% to DIC.


This is what i mean when i say taking the club apart brick by brick. And okay LFC 2007 lets try your way first lets sing "Yankees out"  and i dont mean that in a derogatory way but if that don't work what then? do we wait till the end of the season when we have no manager and no club left.

I've never suggested singing "yankees out", what I am advocating however is; We can do without as much disruption as possible at this moment in time. We are in the middle of our season, we must make certain we finish in the top-four at the very least. The only way to move forward next season is to set ourselves up now i.e. minimum top-four finish. Any drastic or radical action from supporters, particularly boycotts, could quite easily knock us into a downward spiral or bliiiiiiip that could see us finish outside the top-four. I don't think this will happen, as I'm certain there will be no boycotts. Any suggestions that we should are futile and should be nipped in the bud.

Some of the information you state above is questionable, but I'm not going to disagree with the general notion that our owners really have gone against much of what they said and set out last February. That though, has never been the issue as far as I'm concerned. The issue is; 'what is the best way to move forward as a club in the short-term?' i.e. until the end of the season.

For me, the best way means ABSOLUTE focus on football until the end of the season.

I am sure we would all like absolute focus on football until the end of the season. But in case you havent noticed its the discracefull behaviour of the yanks that i believe has already and continues to distracted and lead to a bliiip. Our club and managers future is being speculated about everyday in the gutter press ,and the only course of action you advocate is not to cause any disruption until the end of the season!! in other words carry on as normal supporting the team and do nothing else. As i have already stated if we wait till the end of the season we lose any leverage we may have on G&H we could do absolutely nothing to hurt them. Sure radical action boycotts etc should be a last resort if all else fails but it must still be an option.I look upon it as the lesser of two evils , but if that's what it takes to rid us of G&H so be it.

PS from my reading of many of the past post you have made it is obvious that you are an intelligent guy so leave it out about ASDA i think we both know it WAS an analogy maybe not a very good one but an analogy none the less. what i was trying to get across to you was, imagine the worst case scenario would you still only advocate supporting the team, don't rock the boat etc how far would these numptys need to push before you would support something  a bit more radical ?

[Ciggy]

I have just texted my mate saying I can't wait for DIC

What a weapon.

[Number 9]

Nobybob said:

How could you possibly think i was serious about an ASDA??
Its called an analogy

It clearly wasn't an analogy as you weren't drawing comparison with anything or anyone, it was a far-fetched attempt to propagate fears of what might happen. The example is so far fetched and unlikely to happen this season that it negates your original point, which was essentially; 'if we don't protest now, this is what might happen'. At the very least you have to make the consequence realistic, and within the context of this season, otherwise there is no point to your argument.

Look in my opinion G&H are gradually taking away all the things that make lfc great, and no that's not the physical building itself.
All i ask from who ever owns us is that they
1) Put their own money at risk, and risk is the key word here these yanks buy the club with loans then use the club as collateral. If things don't pan out "oh well the clubs all your RBS.    The yanks have nothing to lose and plenty to gain if the 1 billion pound valuation is anything to go by.

2) That the owners let the manager actually manage and don't interfear. These guys were telling RAFA he couldn't get players on a bossman for gods sake. This kind of thing should be left to ABRAMOVITCH at Chelsea.

3) Get us a new stadium big enough to bring down the huge waiting list for season tickets and in turn bring in more revenue . These fellas showed it to us , they unveiled it to the whole world not long ago only to say "oops we cant afford that anymore

4) i want owners that are open and don't lie to us at every turn. instead we have these t-ssers going behind the managers back like snakes in the grass asking some German who has never manages at club level for info about European club football, oh and "would you like RAFAS job"?? They swore black and blue that they would not sell any shares in LFC, only to admit later that at the time they were denying it they were actually in negotiations to sell 15% to DIC.


This is what i mean when i say taking the club apart brick by brick. And okay LFC 2007 lets try your way first lets sing "Yankees out"  and i dont mean that in a derogatory way but if that don't work what then? do we wait till the end of the season when we have no manager and no club left.

I've never suggested singing "yankees out", what I am advocating however is; We can do without as much disruption as possible at this moment in time. We are in the middle of our season, we must make certain we finish in the top-four at the very least. The only way to move forward next season is to set ourselves up now i.e. minimum top-four finish. Any drastic or radical action from supporters, particularly boycotts, could quite easily knock us into a downward spiral or bliiiiiiip that could see us finish outside the top-four. I don't think this will happen, as I'm certain there will be no boycotts. Any suggestions that we should are futile and should be nipped in the bud.

Some of the information you state above is questionable, but I'm not going to disagree with the general notion that our owners really have gone against much of what they said and set out last February. That though, has never been the issue as far as I'm concerned. The issue is; 'what is the best way to move forward as a club in the short-term?' i.e. until the end of the season.

For me, the best way means ABSOLUTE focus on football until the end of the season.

I am sure we would all like absolute focus on football until the end of the season. But in case you havent noticed its the discracefull behaviour of the yanks that i believe has already and continues to distracted and lead to a bliiip. Our club and managers future is being speculated about everyday in the gutter press ,and the only course of action you advocate is not to cause any disruption until the end of the season!! in other words carry on as normal supporting the team and do nothing else. As i have already stated if we wait till the end of the season we lose any leverage we may have on G&H we could do absolutely nothing to hurt them. Sure radical action boycotts etc should be a last resort if all else fails but it must still be an option.I look upon it as the lesser of two evils , but if that's what it takes to rid us of G&H so be it.

PS from my reading of many of the past post you have made it is obvious that you are an intelligent guy so leave it out about ASDA i think we both know it WAS an analogy maybe not a very good one but an analogy none the less. what i was trying to get across to you was, imagine the worst case scenario would you still only advocate supporting the team, don't rock the boat etc how far would these numptys need to push before you would support something  a bit more radical ?

Calm down noby lad!

The best way is the LFC way..by all means be heard on monday night.

But at the same time we must support eleven red men on the pitch and our manager!
Angry as we are there is a limited amount of what we can do about anything behind the scenes......sadly G&H have the ball and can play it whatever way they want to.

We need to try and stay calm do what we do and let LFC find its way in history..............LFC has never failed before,have faith!

At the end of the road and all that.......................

[nobybob]

hope your right , but boss hog and his buddy really have got under my skin. and 2007 ain't exactly helping my disposition at the mo    time for a coffee and a sleep

i know coffee THEN asleep oh well

[Number 9]

hope your right , but boss hog and his buddy really have got under my skin. and 2007 ain't exactly helping my disposition at the mo    time for a coffee and a sleep

i know coffee THEN asleep oh well

Yeah the caffiene will help to calm you down!Sweet dreams!