Liverpool FC Forum

by **Ciggy** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 8:58 am

Raj_Xedos wrote:
Toffeehater wrote:more lies from the fecking ku.nt ..

I heard that Hicks wants to buy 1% of gillet share and Dic are willing to settle for 49% of gilletts stake . which means that hicks would be 51% and Dic would be 49 % , i hope gillet does sell his entire stake to dic and that fecking hicks fecks off

thats clever...then he is major share holder if DIC do take over!

Not for long.

by **Igor Zidane** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 9:04 am

This is a direct quote from Amanda Staveley and the most pleasing part of the artical . All in good time .

All parties have now reached agreement, Tom Hicks knows that in the long run we will be 100 per cent owners of the club but we are prepared to play a waiting game," Staveley said. "We will be able to pay the price for the financing of the club and construction of a new stadium."

by **The Manhattan Project** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 9:09 am

Ciggy wrote:Heres the letter Hicks sent to DIC even though he said last night he had sent no such thing.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport....108.xml

LFC CORPORATE MAIL!!!!!!!

by **Igor Zidane** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 9:24 am

This is a letter from a texas rangers fan to hicks ripped from RAWK, makes for pretty sad reading. This could have been the future of LFC. Please take note BIg Al .

Dear Mr. Hicks:

Allow me to introduce myself. I have been a die-hard baseball fan since the day I could walk. When the Rangers built the Ballpark, I snapped up season tickets. Good ones to, Section 30, Row 19, seats 10 & 11. The seats looked right down the 3rd base line. What great times I used to have sitting in those seats. George Bush, used to walk up and down that section shaking hands and signing autographs. He knew how to work the crowd. Guess that is why is he president now. What about the time when Kenny Rogers sat about 10 rows behind me, just before the All-Star game. He talked to everyone around him, and also signed autographs. Remember those great years when we won the division. What a blast it was watching Pudge, Gonzalez, Raffy, and Rusty. A lot of home-grown talent mixed with some excellent coaching from Johnny Oates. I will never forget watching Juan Gonzalez hit a monster home run off the Diamond Club windows in the playoff game against the Yankees. All of those red Rangers jerseys, and the echoing of the chants at the games. Those were the fun days.

I was thrilled when you first bought the team. Imagine having a billionaire own our Texas Rangers. We all thought we were going to win the World Series. And what a splash you originally made. A-Rod was going to be a Ranger! We were going to show the Yankees what the Texas Rangers were made of. You also brought in a top-flight pitcher, Chan Ho Park. Things couldn't have been better. You made these moves despite Doug Melvin publicly telling you that the Rangers needed to retool, and rebuild. You wanted to hear none of it, and fired Mr. Melvin. No worries, because you replaced him with the genius of all baseball, John Hart. He came with some warning signs, but you ignored those.

Hart destroyed the fan base, by ignoring all of the loyal fans. North Texas has over 6 million people living in Dallas/Fort Worth and the surrounding areas. Good years, or bad, we showed up in droves. Why, because the Rangers were fan friendly, and it was a great way to spend an evening. Man, I wish Hart would have never showed up. This went from being a baseball team, to a business concerned about the bottom-line. Texans are full of pride, and Mr. Hart and yourself did everything conceivable to destroy this pride. Selling the naming rights to a California business of all things? You had to be greedy and go with the highest bidder, rather than a local company. Radio Shack, Dell, American Airlines, Alcon, Bombay, Pier 1, Nortel, etc... We would have been fine with any of these companies. But for an extra quarter million a year, you sold out the fans. That hurt, and we started bad-mouthing the ownership, but we kept showing up at the games. Then Hart decided that Rangers fest was a waste of time and canceled those gatherings. I enjoyed listening to the Rangers players at those, and feeling like I was part of the team. Hey, I was spending almost $8,000 a year on tickets, couldn't I have a way to connect with the team? You were still spending money, so we went from loving you, to being able to put up with you. That was until the wheels fell off. You traded A-Rod. How embarrassing it must be that you are still writing $8 million checks to him every year. Then you :censored:

off Nolan Ryan so bad that he quit being an ambassador to the Rangers, and signed a contract with the Astros. Then I noticed you started showing up to the game in a private helicopter, only to take a tunnel under the stadium to get to your seats. You would leave your seats and go through the Rangers dugout any time you needed to get up. Remember me telling you that previous owners would get up and shake hands with the fan base around them. Not you anymore. You would wear your white golf shirt and get annoyed when a kid tapped you on the shoulder for an autograph. Over time, the security personal wouldn't even let anyone within 2 rows of you.

At the same time you were burning bridges with a terrific fan base, a new owner showed up in town. Marc Cuban, was making local sports fun again. Talk about fan-friendly, this guy was the man. He loved the crowds, and connecting with everyone around him. He brought in smart management, marketing guros, and did everything he could to make watching a basketball game the best entertainment package possible. Cuban was savvy enough to know that people how a ton of options on how they can spend their money. So guess what, I dumped my Rangers season tickets and bought Maverick season tickets. It hurt at first, but what a great time I have had going to those games over the years. The energy of the crowd, the playoff games, watching the owner get so passionate. Those tickets, and the memories from them, have been priceless.

Mr. Hicks, it is time you start paying attention to what you are doing. We have one of the worst payrolls in baseball. You have gone cheap on just about everything, and keep raising the prices of parking, beer, and hot dogs. You are on record of saying if the fans return, you will start spending again. I have news for you Mr. Hicks, the fans are gone. You have no one to blame but yourself. I was at the Red Sox game last night, and was astonished to see how few people were in the crowd. Not too long ago, it was hard to even get tickets to a Ranger/Red Sox game. Last night I bet only 28,000 people were actually in attendance, and most of those were Red Sox fans. Before you destroyed this team, 28,000 people would have showed up to watch the Royals.

You made a comment earlier this week, that will stick with me for a while. You talked about your new soccer team, and all of the passion that their fans showed. You wished that the fans at your American owned teams shared that same passion. I want you to do me a favor, and have someone pull out some of game tapes of the Ballpark fans from the mid-90's. You will find that we all showed up in red, and we were loud and passionate. Then pull out a tape from when you first bought the Dallas Stars. You will find that same energy from the fans as well. You are the one was sapped that energy from us, and you have a lot of work ahead of you to make it come back.

I left the Ballpark for the last time last night, and drove past the new stadium the Cowboys were building. I started talking to the guests I took to the Ranger game about buying season tickets for the Cowboys when the new stadium opens up. You had my money Mr. Hicks, but now it is going elsewhere. I will still keep my Ranger memorabilia displayed in my game room to remind me of all the good times I used to have at the Ballpark. Until you do something to change my mind, those memories will be the only connection I have to the Rangers. Hopefully those memories will not fade into oblivion.

Take care Mr. Hicks, and I wish you the best of luck. You are a smart man, but you have a lot of work ahead of you. It will be interesting to see how you handle yourself. Enjoy the trips to Europe to watch you new team. Take a ton of pictures of all of their fans. Sometime soon I have a feeling that a European reporter will be reminding you of the comments you made last week, and asking what happened. Take a good look in the mirror before you answer.

by **Toffeehater** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 10:04 am

George Gillett agrees to sell out of Liverpool FC

Mar 8 2008

LIVERPOOL FC co-owner George Gillett last night agreed to sell his share in the club to Dubai International Capital.

LIVERPOOL FC co-owner George Gillett last night agreed to sell his share in the club to Dubai International Capital.

The breakthrough came after DIC agreed to top up Gillett’s profit on his LFC investment from an instant £40m to a potential £80m, depending on future club success.

Crucially the terms of the deal would see 1% of Gillett’s holding in the club go to his American co-owner Tom Hicks for around £500,000, making the Texan the club’s majority shareholder.

DIC, owned by Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, would agree to take on the £350m debt arranged by the Americans in a controversial re-financing deal earlier this year.

Last night’s agreement would value Liverpool FC at £430m, rising to a maximum £510m if the future profit sharing clauses were triggered.

The potential additional £40m Gillett could look forward to is contingent on Liverpool’s success both on the field and in financial terms – agreed targets would have to be hit. Lawyers are yet to thrash out the finer details of the deal which will now become dependent on the agreement of Tom Hicks.

Last night Amanda Staveley, of private equity group PCP who is representing DIC, said the company was willing to accept the minority holding at Anfield subject to certain conditions.

She said: “Subject to re-negotiation of a partnership agreement and subject to the usual stringent minority shareholder protection rights, we would be prepared to accept a 49% shareholding in Liverpool Football Club.

“We have decided this arrangement provides the best possible solution to the situation and would be in the interests of the club and their loyal fans.”

Gillett’s willingness to sell is a major step forward in concluding the power struggle which has so unsettled the Anfield club.

But fans will no doubt be concerned that Hicks, the leading target for their anger, would actually appear to be about to strengthen his hold at Anfield.

Last night George Gillett declined to comment on any agreement with DIC.

But one source stressed that the deal was “far from done” as Hicks will have to be convinced he can work with the Dubai consortium.

It is understood representatives of Hicks, stationed in Dubai, will meet with DIC next week for talks.

The valuation of the club has been the main sticking point in the potential sale, with the Americans previously insisting the club was worth up to £1bn.

The ability of the Americans to invest in the club, especially the new 71,000 seater stadium on Stanley Park, has been questioned following the £350m re-finacing of debt on the club.

The new stadium is an essential part of future profit projections, and the Americans have already had to order one re-design because of rising costs.

Allowing Gillett to have a slice of profits in future was seen as a way of wrestling his stake from his hands while allowing him share proceeds in years to come.

DIC are understood to be keen to get a “foot in the door”, opening up the possibility of buying out Hicks later.

However, sources close to the Texan last night said he had ”other options and other partners” to take a minority stake in the club if agreement could not be reached with DIC.

Hicks believes he and Gillett effectively have a veto over the other should either decide to sell their stake and has made it clear he is prepared to use his veto.

The relationship between the pair has soured in recent months, to such an extent whereby the pair hardly talk now.

Gillett was originally seen as the senior partner in the relationship, bringing in Hicks with his financial muscle in order to outbid DIC for ownership last year.

However, Gillett was angered by Hicks’s public admission that Jurgen Klinsmann had been lined up as a potential replacement for manager Rafael Benitez.

When Hicks announced the controversial £350m refinancing deal in January, Gillett was so annoyed that he refused to put his name to the statement.

The pair bought LFC through their Kop Holdings Group in February last year but their “dream ticket” became a nightmare for fans when they loaded the club with debt.

http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpo....0581441

by **LiverpoolMadman** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 11:10 am

Have DIC sign on the dot ??

by **Feeney** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 12:03 pm

Toffeehater wrote:George Gillett agrees to sell out of Liverpool FC

Mar 8 2008

LIVERPOOL FC co-owner George Gillett last night agreed to sell his share in the club to Dubai International Capital.

LIVERPOOL FC co-owner George Gillett last night agreed to sell his share in the club to Dubai International Capital.

The breakthrough came after DIC agreed to top up Gillett’s profit on his LFC investment from an instant £40m to a potential £80m, depending on future club success.

Crucially the terms of the deal would see 1% of Gillett’s holding in the club go to his American co-owner Tom Hicks for around £500,000, making the Texan the club’s majority shareholder.

DIC, owned by Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, would agree to take on the £350m debt arranged by the Americans in a controversial re-financing deal earlier this year.

Last night’s agreement would value Liverpool FC at £430m, rising to a maximum £510m if the future profit sharing clauses were triggered.

The potential additional £40m Gillett could look forward to is contingent on Liverpool’s success both on the field and in financial terms – agreed targets would have to be hit. Lawyers are yet to thrash out the finer details of the deal which will now become dependent on the agreement of Tom Hicks.

Last night Amanda Staveley, of private equity group PCP who is representing DIC, said the company was willing to accept the minority holding at Anfield subject to certain conditions.

She said: “Subject to re-negotiation of a partnership agreement and subject to the usual stringent minority shareholder protection rights, we would be prepared to accept a 49% shareholding in Liverpool Football Club.

“We have decided this arrangement provides the best possible solution to the situation and would be in the interests of the club and their loyal fans.”

Gillett’s willingness to sell is a major step forward in concluding the power struggle which has so unsettled the Anfield club.

http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpo....0581441

This has just been on Radio City as well, so its safe to say that this news is rock solid.

by **Dundalk** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 12:33 pm

So now we are left with one tit and a DIC

by **dawson99** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 12:43 pm

Dundalk wrote:So now we are left with one tit and a DIC

by **kazza** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 1:10 pm

Dundalk wrote:So now we are left with one tit and a DIC

And DIC can't do much with only one tit.

by **zarababe** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 1:15 pm

Really sad that a year down the line the club has become the focus of a takeover dual between two powers/ or 3 as it stands.

I want DIC - but it was revealed last year that they only had a 7 year plan to keep the club too - we all need to hope the right ppl are in charge - don't know if we'll ever know that!

Well .. the next installment is no-doubt being prepared !

by **Dundalk** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 1:27 pm

kazza wrote:
Dundalk wrote:So now we are left with one tit and a DIC

And DIC can't do much with only one tit.

Youd be surprized

by **kazza** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 1:31 pm

Dundalk wrote:
kazza wrote:
Dundalk wrote:So now we are left with one tit and a DIC

And DIC can't do much with only one tit.

Youd be surprized

by **tubby** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 3:15 pm

So how can DIC take full control from 40%? Is this just a plan until Hicks decides to go or are these 2 realy going to be running the club together?

by **maguskwt** » Sat Mar 08, 2008 6:33 pm

bavlondon wrote:So how can DIC take full control from 40%? Is this just a plan until Hicks decides to go or are these 2 realy going to be running the club together?

DIC will surely try to get 100% later on... and hicks is just playing the waiting game to get more profit... IMO at least now there will be more balance

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