safe

Sean Dundee - I always thought he was a mythical figure

I agree that everything points to the having to sell but I doubt they'll go down w/o trying every last trick to long it out

What did he say?

From The Times August 29, 2008 Liverpool's owners take another hefty blow Postponement of stadium building casts further doubt on credibility of Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr to drive club forward Oliver Kay The troubled regime of Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr at Liverpool suffered another severe blow last night when it emerged that they are preparing to postpone construction of the club's new stadium because of difficulties raising the funds in an unforgiving financial market. Hicks and Gillett had hoped that the building of a 60,000-capacity stadium on the site at Stanley Park, barely a quarter of a mile from the club's Anfield home, would start within weeks, dispelling some of the concerns about their ability to drive Liverpool forward. But their apparent failure to do so casts further doubt about their credibility as owners, increasing the pressure on them to sell to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai. The American tycoons will play down the significance of this latest setback, saying that the market conditions are not favourable for such large-scale borrowing, but, 18 months after they bought the club, pledging that building would start “within weeks”, it is another embarrassment that they could do without. According to one source, they were recently told by the Royal Bank of Scotland that they could borrow the money required for the £350million project on the condition that they could put up £200million in guarantees, but they have been unable to do so. The Hicks-Gillett regime has appeared doomed since it emerged that they had invited Dubai International Capital (DIC), the private-equity investment arm of the Dubai Government, to buy a minority stake last October. Hicks blocked DIC's bid to buy the club for £400million earlier this year, but the Dubai interest remains, albeit now presented as a consortium headed by Sheikh Mohammed, rather than under the DIC banner. The Dubai consortium still expects Hicks and Gillett, whose relationship remains tense, to return to sell within months, aware that their most recent refinancing package is up for renewal in January, albeit with the option of a six-month extension. We have built on last year's success of PlayTheGame by offering fantasy football managers double the fun this coming season On the pitch, Liverpool's results so far this season have been positive enough - two wins out of two in the Barclays Premier League and progression to the Champions League group stage - but their performances have not. Rafael Benítez, the manager, has expressed overall disappointment and he may be particularly concerned at teething problems with the new strike partnership of Fernando Torres and Robbie Keane. Another worry is the continuing lack of quality in wide areas, which should be resolved by the arrival of Albert Riera from Espanyol. However, that £8.5million deal had still to be finalised last night, meaning that Liverpool are likely to travel to Aston Villa without him on Sunday. Dirk Kuyt, who secured their Champions League place on Wednesday night by scoring the only goal of the qualifying tie against Standard Liège in stoppage time at Anfield, admitted that Liverpool have flattered to deceive. “We have had a lot of luck,” the forward said. “We have to improve and it has to happen quickly.” Liverpool paid a combined £40million for Fernando Torres and Robbie Keane, who arrived from Tottenham Hotspur this summer. So far, neither have matched their form of last season. Robbie Keane 2007-08 (Premier League, for Tottenham Hotspur): Minutes on pitch: 2,731 Goals: 15 (1 per 182min) Shots on target: 40 (1 per 68min) Pass completion 81% 2008-09 (four games, all competitions) Minutes on pitch: 318 Goals: 0 Shots on target: 0 Pass completion: 71% Fernando Torres 2007-08 (Premier League, for Liverpool) Minutes on pitch: 2,542 Goals: 24 (1 per 106mins) Shots on target: 48 (1 per 53min) Pass completion 64% 2008-09 (four games, all competitions) Minutes on pitch: 389 Goals: 1 (1 per 389min) Shots on target: 1 (1 per 389min) Pass completion: 62%

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/socc...0444/index.html Gillett invites Dubai officials to Liverpool-Chelsea Champions League clash as DIC meets fans LIVERPOOL, England (AP) -George Gillett Jr. is firing another salvo in his dispute with Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks over control of the club, inviting officials from a Dubai consortium seeking to buy the club to Tuesday's Champions League clash with Chelsea. Hicks has threatened to block Gillett from selling his 50 percent stake in Liverpool to Dubai International Capital, but the owner of the Montreal Canadiens ice hockey team still is hopeful of reaching a deal. DIC has begun preparations for the transition of power, holding talks Monday night with the most organized fans' group, a person present told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation. DIC's chief negotiator Amanda Staveley was said to have engaged in a "meeting of minds'' with senior officers from Spirit of Shankly, which is named after former Liverpool manager Bill Shankly. Gillett has invited the oil-rich group's chief executive Samir Al-Ansari and Staveley to the first leg semifinal at Anfield, and they will sit in the directors' box, a person close to the negotiations told the AP. He was speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations. Gillett, himself, is not expected to make the trip from the United States due to illness, but his son Foster - a Liverpool director - is expected to be at the stadium. Hicks is planning to make his first trip to Anfield since December. With all three parties at the match, Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is hopeful it won't distract from the match. "I don't think the supporters will be thinking too much about the directors' box. They will be thinking about the game,'' Benitez said. Gillett has vowed never to sell his stake to Hicks, who is determined to gain full control of the club. Gillett has accused the Hicks of "creating turmoil'' at Anfield ahead of the vital European matches by calling on Reds CEO Rick Parry to resign. Gillett and Hicks bought Liverpool for 218.9 million pounds (then US$431 million; ?333 million) but they are no longer on speaking terms after their disagreements over the direction of the club. Come on lads spill the beans!!

But thats the thing the fat egotistical b*****d porobably thinks he can sweet talk these dumb scousers with his hollow words ..... There is no harm in letting him know AFTER the game he's not wanted here

Sorry mate I disagree A European CL QF Vs The very existance of our great institution as we know it ............. No contest. Hicks would love for us all to have an attitude like that, just sit back and roll over for him

Posted by Walton Red on rawk: he is coming on tuesday definitely unfortunately. cheeky c**** confirmed today by little Tommy t***. Also heard today that they were disillusioned by initial City reaction to their roadshow this week but had some "potentially interesting" devlopments on Friday. They expect to be in total control this time next season. Its our biggest game of the season I mean what do we do? The thought of Hicks having total control of our club makes me physically sick - I think a protest at full time would be worthwhile

RB is a must improve area for me, Finnan has served us well but he isnt the answer anymore, we need an Alves type, dont know how good Rafinha is but if he's a similar type of player then great. I think from what we've seen of Insua he could be pretty dynamic on the left, I'd be willing to take some of his growing pains defensively. Obviously we also need an upgrade over Kuyt on the right sided attacker role, who that could be i dont know

Playing this system utilises the strengths of our squad right and also it lessens our summer needs. The spine of the team is very strong As of right now I thnk we need a quality RB (I'd be willing to give Insua a go at LB) A midfielder especially if Xabi is off and essentially a WC right sided attacker to play the Kuyt role

posted by moe on tlw: My understanding is that the offer to Gillett was made more than a couple of months ago, and there's not long left for this 90 days deadline to pass (althought the 90-day theory has not been confirmed to me). It ties in with the start of the stories about DIC's involement. DIC also did not need to review the books again. They simply needed full details of the loan and repayment figures. Hicks going to Dubai was to try and trash out a deal, and discuss the valuation of the club. An agreement was not reached, leading to Hicks' denials, and DIC focusing on Gillett. It's also been clarified to me that Gillett is the one who has been told to keep out of the press and keep away from Anfield, by DIC. This explains his disappearing act. He has agreed to sell, and it seems as though Hicks is running out of time to match DIC's offer. Also, if the 90-day thing is true, then there is no way Hicks can block Gillett's sale of his shares, once the deadline has passed. I'm trying to find out if the deadline is true, and if indeed, DIC are willing to purchase only half the club.

"Of the two owners I'm told George Gillett in principle has agreed or is inclined to agree," said BBC sports editor Mihir Bose. "Tom Hicks has not and the two partners have an agreement that one can buy out the other. That for DIC is a stumbling block. "The fact that DIC have gone so public on this means they know that the offer is not being accepted and they are trying to use fan pressure, like the Americans did last year." http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/t...ool/7276383.stm I think Bose has hit the nail on the head there

Whats he saying?

NYR, you definately think thicks will be unsuccessful in this latest attempt to raise the equity to buy out Gillet?

Not that we will beat Inter, but this would be my team ------------------Reina------------------ Finnan---Hyypia-----Carragher----Aurelio Pennent----Mascherano--Gerrard---Letto ------------------Crouch------------------- -----------------Torres--------------------- If we fail to be Inter in 2 legs, i'm sorry but Rafa MUST step down for the good of the club. And we should bring in Phil Thomson until the summer and then Jose Mourinho. I like Rafa, don't get me wrong but Roy Evens got us closer to the league!!