Liverpool FC Forum

[tubby]

Someone should get that Kinsella fella to "fix" Hicks.

[Ciggy]

Hicks is a feckin kunt for coming tommorrow night, hes a kunt anyway but a bigger one for coming tommorrow.

There will be murders if he turns up cigg ive just got a feeling hes to sh.it scared to show his face and wont turn up

Hes comin tommorrow Rafa even said the fans should concentrate on the team and not him.

Liverpool co-owner George Gillett has invited senior officials from Dubai International Capital to be his guests at Anfield on Tuesday for the Champions League semi-final showdown with Chelsea.

Although Gillett himself will not be able to attend the match because of illness, his party - including son Foster, a fellow director - will be there in force to welcome DIC's representatives.

It is a remarkable move by Gillett - who has wanted to sell his 50% stake in the club to DIC for several months - and comes just five days after his estranged partner Tom Hicks staged an extravagant PR exercise with a TV interview defiantly outlining his own plans for the future of the club.

But significantly, after Hicks had made it clear he still intended to buy out Gillett, Colorado-based Gillett announced that he had no intention of ever selling his stake to Hicks.

It is believed that DIC's chief negotiator Amanda Staveley will be among Gillett's party, along with Liverpool fan and DIC chief executive Samir Al-Ansari.

Hicks could also be there, although significantly his spokesmen in the UK have been unable to confirm the Dallas billionaire's movements.

Hicks had made it clear at the weekend that he intended to be at Anfield for the first leg of the Champions League semi-final - but there are now doubts that he would want to be in the same directors box as DIC.

DIC have been trying to buy the club for 18 months, having been beaten at the post by Hicks and Gillett just over a year ago.

They seemed to have tied up a deal at the turn of the year, only for Hicks to send a representative to Dubai for talks before pulling the plug on the possible sale.

Now Gillett, at least, seems to be making a bold statement of intent. It is clear he wants to sell and that DIC want to buy.

The problem over Hicks' alleged veto of any Gillett sale is likely to be challenged in court before the summer.

Manager Rafael Benitez made it clear that he and his team - plus the fans - will be concentrating on reaching the Moscow final next month and will remain unaffected by whatever happens in the directors' box.

But Gillett is seemingly now playing his hand and making it clear that DIC are his guests and eventually purchasers of his stake.

If Hicks does not attend he will be left in no doubt that Gillett believes he has the whip-hand, and that a deal will have to be brokered sooner rather than later

[NANNY RED]

Hicks had made it clear at the weekend that he intended to be at Anfield for the first leg of the Champions League semi-final - but there are now doubts that he would want to be in the same directors box as DIC.

Hed be made very welcome in the kop if he doesnt wanna sit in the directors box. justs make sure Coynes is on stand by

[Ciggy]

Hicks had made it clear at the weekend that he intended to be at Anfield for the first leg of the Champions League semi-final - but there are now doubts that he would want to be in the same directors box as DIC.

Hed be made very welcome in the kop if he doesnt wanna sit in the directors box. justs make sure Coynes is on stand by

I dont even think Coyney would want him 

[heimdall]

Hicks had made it clear at the weekend that he intended to be at Anfield for the first leg of the Champions League semi-final - but there are now doubts that he would want to be in the same directors box as DIC.

Hed be made very welcome in the kop if he doesnt wanna sit in the directors box. justs make sure Coynes is on stand by

I dont even think Coyney would want him 

Who's Coynes???

This is great news that Gillett is inviting DIC to the game, it is a massive FU to Hicks, excelent!!   

[NANNY RED]

Hicks had made it clear at the weekend that he intended to be at Anfield for the first leg of the Champions League semi-final - but there are now doubts that he would want to be in the same directors box as DIC.

Hed be made very welcome in the kop if he doesnt wanna sit in the directors box. justs make sure Coynes is on stand by

I dont even think Coyney would want him 

Who's Coynes???

This is great news that Gillett is inviting DIC to the game, it is a massive FU to Hicks, excelent!!   

  Oh Hiemdell im crackin up here Coynes is gonna be Hicks best mate if he turns up tommorrow the shovels are already being put in the ground in Stanley Park. 

[redtrader74]

They bury the dead, and in Hicks case he doesn't have to be.

I hope there is no focus on those two tomorrow, the players need us, and Chelsea need to 'feel' Anfield again. Time to crank it up a notch.

[Igor Zidane]

from the Independent

Battle for Anfield casts shadow over quest for Champions League

By Jason Burt
Tuesday, 22 April 2008


The battle for control of Anfield will not be confined to the pitch tonight as Liverpool face Chelsea in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final. In an extraordinary move, which threatens to overshadow the eagerly anticipated encounter, senior officials from Dubai International Capital – including the chief executive Samir Al-Ansari – will be in the directors' box as the guests of the club's co-owner George Gillett.


The American himself will not attend, due to ill health, which may be a strategic decision, but his son and fellow director, Foster Gillett, will host Al-Ansari and Amanda Staveley, who is DIC's chief negotiator, as they head towards buying Liverpool for around £400m.

Tom Hicks, who owns the other 50 per cent of Liverpool, and has become a hate-figure among supporters due to his belligerent feud with Gillett, is also expected to be at the match, which may make for an interesting seating arrangement. It would be no surprise, however, if Hicks cried off at the last moment, with his spokesman last night refusing to confirm whether or not he would travel to Merseyside. If he did, so it would confirm that DIC is set to buy the club.

DIC, which has hugely ambitious plans for Liverpool and has been trying to acquire the club for two years, is supremely confident that it will finally reach its goal in the next few weeks. It has already agreed a deal with Gillett, who is prepared to accept less than Hicks to make sure the club's future is secure – even though both businessmen will make a healthy return on the £220m they paid 18 months ago. DIC appears sure that Hicks' public attempts to find the finance to acquire the club outright for himself are doomed to failure. DIC expects the Texan to sell to it and believes he is now just posturing.

Meetings have continued behind the scenes over the last few weeks, including several with former players and people who have influence at the club, as DIC wants to make sure it has the fans' approval, which the company believes is vital. And the fact that both Al-Ansari, who is a lifelong Liverpool supporter, and Staveley feel emboldened enough to make public appearances at Anfield shows just how confident they are. Still, Hicks remains belligerent as was evidenced in his television interview last week, which followed his attempts to sack the chief executive Rick Parry, who wants to sell to DIC. But Hicks' bold claims that he can veto Gillett's sale of his stake in the club are not thought to be watertight.

The Liverpool manager, Rafael Benitez, is refusing to be drawn on the continued developments over the club's future. He believes he was unfairly castigated for his previous interventions and wants to concentrate on attempting to reach what would be Liverpool's third European Cup final under him in just four years, which would be a remarkable achievement.

Chelsea will hope to stymie that, even though they have fallen at this stage of the competition, at Anfield, on two previous occasions. Yesterday the Liverpool captain, Steven Gerrard, who has been declared fit despite his neck problems which ruled him out of Saturday's meeting with Fulham, claimed that Chelsea "will be wary of us and what we're capable of".

The midfielder added: "They'll have seen the Arsenal game [the second leg of the quarter-final, which Liverpool won 4-2] and be in no doubt of the task ahead. I have a lot of confidence in us.

"This team never knows when it's beaten. Some teams wilt and chuck it when the going gets tough. That's not the case with us; we'll battle and scrap and believe in our ability to do whatever it takes – here at Anfield or down there on their patch – to progress in the European Cup. I don't think there's a player, a manager or supporter of any team in Europe who wouldn't say the Champions League is the pinnacle in football.

"That's one of the reasons why we are desperate to be there when the destiny of the trophy is decided. We need to be brave, bold and clinical and in the return game down there. If we do that, then we can start thinking about Russia."

Gerrard certainly believes that Liverpool have the sign over Chelsea even if, this time, the return leg is at Stamford Bridge. "It's suggested that it gives them a big advantage over us this time around," he said. "There's maybe a little edge for Chelsea in that, but I don't believe that it will have any say. Stamford Bridge is a big stadium and it might give them more confidence bringing us to their backyard, but it's got nothing like the aura about it that Anfield does – and it certainly won't intimidate us."

[Igor Zidane]

Another little snippet , this time from the mail.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages....to=1490
Gillett stirs the pot at Liverpool by inviting Dubai predators to Chelsea clash
By JOHN EDWARDS - More by this author »

Last updated at 00:05am on 22nd April 2008

Comments

Rafael Benitez's Champions League quest is in danger of being overshadowed by Liverpool's bitter boardroom wrangling after it emerged the rival factions will meet head on at Anfield on Tuesday night.

Co-owner George Gillett has invited senior officials from Dubai International Capital to be his guests for the Champions League semi-final first leg with Chelsea

Gillett will not be able to attend because of illness but his party — including son Foster, a fellow director — will be there to welcome DIC's representatives.

The move came as Benitez urged fans not to be distracted by the boardroom battle and instead 'make more noise' to unsettle Chelsea, who Liverpool have twice beaten at this stage of the tournament.

Gillett has wanted to sell his 50 per cent stake in the club to DIC for several months and his bold move comes five days after his estranged partner Tom Hicks staged an extravagant PR exercise defiantly outlining his own plans for the future of the club.

Colorado-based Gillett has since announced he had no intention of selling his stake to Hicks. It is believed that DIC's chief negotiator Amanda Staveley will be among Gillett's party, along with DIC chief executive Samir Al-Ansari.

Hicks made it clear at the weekend that he intended to be at Anfield but he will surely not want to be in the same directors' box as the DIC representatives.

Liverpool manager Benitez has urged supporters to expose what he believes to be a mental block among Chelsea's players in this intense atmosphere. Although captain John Terry promises that his players 'mean business' and will go for goals, not shut up shop, Benitez hopes the past losses will weigh heavily on Chelsea.

He said: "If it was me trying to make up for those defeats, I would view it as an incentive, for sure. But for them, it could prove a psychological problem after what happened.

"They have experienced players who shouldn't have any problem coming to Anfield and dealing with the atmosphere but we must create even more noise, if possible, to put them to the test.

"Our supporters know we need everyone behind us from the start. I am sure they will be focused on the team, rather than anything else."

Steven Gerrard is fit after missing the win at Fulham because of a neck injury. Along with Jamie Carragher and Fabio Aurelio, he will miss the second leg if booked. Chelsea have no players in a similar position but are without the suspended Michael Essien.

[Toffeehater]

DIC look at Roma bid
Sheikh Mohammed looks at Serie A investment

Sheikh Mohammed has confirmed that his family are keen on buying Roma which may alter any plans they have for Liverpool.

DIC - the investment arm of Dubai Holdings which belongs to the Government of Dubai - have been trying to invest in the English giants for two years.

But they have never been able to agree terms with firstly David Moores and subsequently either of the club's American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

The huge rift between Hicks and Gillett which is currently engulfing the Anfield club had seemingly opened the way for DIC to come back in - but as yet that has not materialised.

Interest

Now Sheikh Mohammed has confirmed his family are interested in the Eternal City outfit.

Roma are owned by Italpetroli, who are linked to the Sensi family, with Franco Sensi the club's president.

A number of investors have been linked with a deal for Roma, with American George Soros said to be close to a deal last month.

But Sheikh Mohammed could now be set to step-in and make a move.

"I don't follow a lot football, but I know my family want to negotiate for Roma and that there have been contacts," Sheikh Mohammed is quoted as saying by the Gazzetta dello Sport.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11669_3451752,00.html

[Igor Zidane]

DIC look at Roma bid
Sheikh Mohammed looks at Serie A investment

Sheikh Mohammed has confirmed that his family are keen on buying Roma which may alter any plans they have for Liverpool.

DIC - the investment arm of Dubai Holdings which belongs to the Government of Dubai - have been trying to invest in the English giants for two years.

But they have never been able to agree terms with firstly David Moores and subsequently either of the club's American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

The huge rift between Hicks and Gillett which is currently engulfing the Anfield club had seemingly opened the way for DIC to come back in - but as yet that has not materialised.

Interest

Now Sheikh Mohammed has confirmed his family are interested in the Eternal City outfit.

Roma are owned by Italpetroli, who are linked to the Sensi family, with Franco Sensi the club's president.

A number of investors have been linked with a deal for Roma, with American George Soros said to be close to a deal last month.

But Sheikh Mohammed could now be set to step-in and make a move.

"I don't follow a lot football, but I know my family want to negotiate for Roma and that there have been contacts," Sheikh Mohammed is quoted as saying by the Gazzetta dello Sport.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11669_3451752,00.html

Stories poo, it's the wrong shiekh, it's the uncle of our shiekh.

[Redman in wales]

Is this a ploy to try and force the Americans to sell up 

Sheikh Mohammed has confirmed that his family are keen on buying Roma which may alter any plans they have for Liverpool.

DIC - the investment arm of Dubai Holdings which belongs to the Government of Dubai - have been trying to invest in the English giants for two years.

But they have never been able to agree terms with firstly David Moores and subsequently either of the club's American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

The huge rift between Hicks and Gillett which is currently engulfing the Anfield club had seemingly opened the way for DIC to come back in - but as yet that has not materialised.

Now Sheikh Mohammed has confirmed his family are interested in the Eternal City outfit.

Roma are owned by Italpetroli, who are linked to the Sensi family, with Franco Sensi the club's president.

A number of investors have been linked with a deal for Roma, with American George Soros said to be close to a deal last month.

But Sheikh Mohammed could now be set to step-in and make a move.

"I don't follow a lot football, but I know my family want to negotiate for Roma and that there have been contacts," Sheikh Mohammed is quoted as saying by the Gazzetta dello Sport.

Ripped frow TLW

This was posted by MindGuirrelas in Dubai from EST 1892. It's not DIC.


Quote:
The one in this story is our Sheik's uncle.

Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum (born 1950 is the chairman of Emirates Airline.

He is also International Life Vice President of Chelsea Football Club (Chelsea F.C.).

He is the son of former Emir (Ruler) of Dubai Sheikh Saeed bin Maktoum Al Maktoum, the brother of former Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum and uncle of the current Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum He is a graduate of the University of Denver. 

Its not our Sheikh Destro, its his uncle. Sky trying to stir up the sh!t as usual

already mentionmed on here toffeehater... see above.

[tubby]

Yeah it must be bs. They were "interested" in Newcastle a few months ago.

[NANNY RED]

Was that Amanda Staverly and Sameer Al Ansari at the game tonight cause they only showed the fat Texan.

Benitez said before on the telly hes asked for a sit down with the two yanks as soon as.

How sick is this pic.

[Thingy]

Makes you feel physically ill looking at that. He couldnt even get the words right to Youll Never Walk alone the fat p.rick. I say this everytime i post in this thread, get out of our club.