Liverpool FC Forum

by **ivor_the_injun** » Tue May 16, 2006 12:12 am

Surprised no-one picked up on this earlier today - it's on the front page of the Guardian sport section...

From http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1774907,00.html

Liverpool meet today over cash injection

Monday May 15, 2006
The Guardian

Liverpool's chief executive Rick Parry will today meet Robin Herd, the former chairman of Oxford United, to discuss an investment proposal which would see significant funds pumped into the club and the current hierarchy at Anfield unchanged.

Herd, 67, is not planning to invest his own money but is acting as a conduit for a European financial institution. That group has yet to outline the details of their bid but will finalise their proposal today and hope to have the plans put forward at the club's board meeting on Thursday.

Until they see the proposals, Liverpool are wary of whether Herd's party have enough funds to prompt further talks. Parry, a close friend of Herd, is aware of interest from up to four other groups who have demonstrated their ability to inject significant funds. The Norwegian suitors Oystein Stray Spetalen and Petter Stordalen outlined an improved offer for a stake in the club last week.

But the chairman and majority shareholder David Moores would be attracted to Herd's proposals as they would not involve him diluting his 51% interest. That would allow Moores and the board to remain in their positions with new money injected to fund team strengthening and a new stadium on Stanley Park. Although Herd's background is in motor sport, it is understood no formula one figures are involved.

by **The Ace1983** » Tue May 16, 2006 12:17 am

Sounds very nice. Lots of extra cash and no change in our stable hierarchy. Still speculative I suppose, though it would be very good news for our title bid next season. Shevchenko here we come!

by **XSD** » Tue May 16, 2006 12:51 am

I'm interested in finding out what exactly they do want if it isn't a % of the club. You don't get money for nothing.

by **The Ace1983** » Tue May 16, 2006 1:26 am

You do get kicks for free though!

by **112-1077774096** » Tue May 16, 2006 2:55 am

Sunday People

LIVERPOOL are locked in takeover talks with a top British sporting Mister Fixit and his mystery backers about a potential £180million deal.

The man behind the takeover bid is Robin Herd, who designed Concorde and motor racing cars before he became Oxford United's chairman - and who comes with a colourful CV in the worlds of business and sport.

Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry has had lengthy negotiations with Herd and in the next 48 hours will find out how much money he and his colleagues, including American business partners, have behind them.

Parry is due to have a summit tomorrow to discuss figures with the new would-be Anfield owners, who have been putting a deal together for the past few weeks.

Herd's group have edged in front of another potential bidder from Russia and, if the cash is in place, there could be an announcement shortly about substantial funds for players and ground development.

The identity of the group is known to Liverpool insiders but is a closely-guarded secret outside. However, motor racing figures like Eddie Jordan may be involved.

Chairman David Moores is definitely up for a sale and hopes that this latest bidder will be more suitable than some of the previous buyers from places like Thailand and Norway.

Herd, 67, was awarded the CBE after a lifetime in design and engineering. He was one of the men behind Concorde and then turned his talents to motor racing.

Dubbed 'Mister Motor-sport', he went from building cars to owning the companies, including New York-based March Indy International, and even running his own motor sport competitions.

However, Herd was always a football fan and bought his home-town team, Oxford United, in 1991 - along with one of his old companies, Biomass Recycling, now known as Wastec and based on Teesside.

But the deal went wrong when a plan to move ground ran into problems despite the promise of money from Bermuda-based businessmen John Gunn, who wanted to build a new ground in the image of Chelsea Village.

Herd lost a "small fortune'' according to friends and he sold out before concentrating on the lucrative recycling business, forging big links with American companies.

Big-thinking Herd has tried to acquire a top club since leaving Oxford, claiming to his circle that he was behind a bid to buy Newcastle United - with suggestions that fellow motor racing magnate Jordan was involved.

Jordan and Herd have known each other for years and tried to arrange a TV reality show to find a future F1 champion, a plan that did not get off the ground.

The identity of Herd's partners is being kept secret, but may yet be a combination of his contacts.

by **metalhead** » Tue May 16, 2006 12:14 pm

Thats good, we will have enough money to finish the stadium in time and get the players that Rafa wants.

i ditto with ace, shevchenko here we come

by **Big Niall** » Tue May 16, 2006 1:19 pm

Our main priority must be another stadium. What is the latest? I read that Arsenal and Manure will make £20m more from home games next year than we will. We don't have a Russian "legitimate business man" to finance us so we must keep up.

Whats the latest re stadium?

by **AussieKopite** » Tue May 16, 2006 2:12 pm

I'd love to have that money, but only if the board stays relatively stable.

by **Livor** » Tue May 16, 2006 10:27 pm

i would like the investment which means the a new satdium, means we can compete with the top names like man u and realmadrid for top cash flow

by **anti-hero** » Wed May 17, 2006 4:18 am

Woo-hoo!

Robin Hood's our sponsor!

So are we gonna wear leotards or what?

by **Livor** » Wed May 17, 2006 1:26 pm

no ive heard rumours that its suppose to be addidas

by **Paul C** » Wed May 17, 2006 1:49 pm

Livor wrote:no ive heard rumours that its suppose to be addidas

Their not rumours mate, it's official that Adidas are the kit sponsors from next season (it was on the official website).

by **RUSHIE#9** » Wed May 17, 2006 1:50 pm

I read this story in the people on sunday and i was very wary of this guy straight away. The fact that his involvement with oxford went tads up is not something you want potential new owners to have on their CV. The fact that it is being suggested that they are just going to invest in the club and not wanting to buy it outright is promising though 'cos I think that the current hierachy do have the clubs best interests at heart; it's just that in the current climate they are struggling to find the necessary investment to help keep us competitive. The mystery surrounding the 'Financial Instituition' that he may be representing does again unsettle me a bit. No doubt the club aren't going to get involved unless they know who they are dealing with so it's obviously going to be a case of us trusting them. In the end we all just have to hope that they aren't going to get their hands on the club and then start to say 'right we're going to do it this way' and end up totally ruining us before disappearing and leaving us in the shit (Cough, RIDSDALE, Cough). :laugh:

by **AussieKopite** » Wed May 17, 2006 3:28 pm

Paul C wrote:
Livor wrote:no ive heard rumours that its suppose to be addidas

Their not rumours mate, it's official that Adidas are the kit sponsors from next season (it was on the official website).

I think its more than just the kit, I heard rumours of over 100 mill over 7 years. Just rumours tho.

by **AussieKopite** » Wed May 17, 2006 3:28 pm

Sorry, double post.

Liverpool FC Forum

Investment - There's movement...

Who is online