Agency refuses to hand over 9 million for stadium

[liverbird04]

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0100new...-name_page.html

 

Agency refuses to hand over £9m to Liverpool FC Nov 23 2006

 

 

By Larry Neild City Editor, Daily Post

 

 

 

MERSEYSIDE'S biggest government agency, the NWDA, is refusing to hand over £9m to Liverpool FC, despite preparatory work starting on a massive New Anfield project funded by another government arm.

 

Club executives have signed a deal with Liverpool City Council guaranteeing to underwrite £1m-worth of improvement work at Stanley Park.

 

It will enable work on the restoration of the Victorian park to be planned, rather than wait until the funding squabble is resolved. Up to £9m of European funding has to be spent within a certain timescale to avoid funding managers in Brussels clawing back the cash.

 

But there is still no sign that a similar amount of vital public funding will be released by the Northwest Development Agency.

 

 

NWDA chief executive Steven Broomhead said: "The agency has yet to see any clear evidence of the club's ability to commence with the stadium project, that is to raise the necessary funds. We are eager for the project to start, and we have ring-fenced funding from the agency as our contribution."

 

 

Liverpool City Council has agreed to be the legal responsible body for public funding, which means the council will have to refund public money spent if the stadium project collapses.

 

 

Without the underwriting deal, city council tax payers could have been left picking up the bill for the park improvements if the overall stadium project had not gone ahead.

 

 

Merseyside's Objective 1 projects committee agreed to fund public realm works around the proposed new stadium to the tune of £9m after receiving the club's assurances that it had a package in place to pay for the new £190m 60,000-seater stadium.

 

 

But NWDA officials in Warrington say they have written several letters to the club's chief executive, Rick Parry, asking for clarification.

 

It is understood that concerns raised by officials at the Warrington agency include possible changes of ownership at Anfield.

 

One source close to the agency said last night: "There is a lot of speculation about the future ownership of the club. If a new owner does take over, that person, or those people, may have a different attitude to a new ground, or towards a shared stadium with Everton. They may even want to look at the level of debt at Anfield before committing to a new stadium."

 

Club officials continue to make guarded comments about the future, insisting the club is committed to delivering a new stadium.

 

Last night, Frank McKenna, chairman of Downtown Liverpool in Business, said: "It really is about time the club proved it has the funding and is starting work on the new ground. There are other projects eager for funding, such as the proposed extension of the runway at Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

 

"Some people suggest that the runway extension is far more crucial anyway to the local economy than a football stadium. The club must finally come forward and show people the colour of its money."

 

Last night, a Liverpool council spokesman said: "The city council accepted the grant offer from Objective 1 earlier this month, following discussions with Liverpool Football Club, during which we were reassured that they are making satisfactory progress in getting the funding for the scheme in place.

 

 

 

"We are now proceeding with preparatory work such as finalising the joint venture company and securing contracts ahead of the start of the development of the scheme. We will not be starting on site with actual works until we have full confirmation that their funding and the money from the Northwest Development Agency is in place."

 

 

 

Liverpool FC ownership must be established before stadium issue can be resolved

 

THE need to resolve the stadium issue is intrinsically tied up with the future ownership of Liverpool FC.

 

The club's board of directors had been scheduled to meet today, but it is understood that will not happen. When the directors do meet, they will be told about two serious contenders for the club. US billionaire George Gillett, owner of the Montreal Canadians ice hockey club, is said to be the leading contender.

 

Bankers NM Rothschild are reported to be advising the Gillett bid, which would see an offer of around £250m for the club. That would be £150m to purchase the shares, with £100m to cover the club's existing debts. Gillett would also provide a commitment to fund the new stadium.

 

Also a high player in the takeover race is Dubai International Capital, Emirates private equity arm, advised by JP Morgan, who arranged financing for the deal by Malcolm Glazer to take over Manchester United. Wealthy Belfast-based property tycoon John Miskelly is thought to be a third bidder.

 

The club chairman, David Moores, a member of the Littlewoods dynasty, owns 51% of the shares in Liverpool FC.

 

 

 

 

 

[Tosh]

Hang on

 

Since Monday we've incurred an extra £20 in debt

[jon_hall]

Hang on

 

Since Monday we've incurred an extra £20 in debt

 

20 quids not a lot

 

Coupled witht he fact the stadium seems to be costing more, i wonder where these reporters get the crap info from.

[liverbird04]

"If a new owner does take over, that person, or those people, may have a different attitude to a new ground, or towards a shared stadium with Everton. They may even want to look at the level of debt at Anfield before committing to a new stadium."

 

 

can someone tell that steve boomhead or whoever he is to give it a rest

[Bailo]

"One source close to the agency said last night: "There is a lot of speculation about the future ownership of the club. If a new owner does take over, that person, or those people, may have a different attitude to a new ground, or towards a shared stadium with Everton. They may even want to look at the level of debt at Anfield before committing to a new stadium."

 

f*** off f*** off f*** off f*** off f*** off f*** off f*** off f*** of f*** off f*** of f*** off f*** off

[Guest BrianF]

Are they still pushing their groundshare agenda. Idiots.

 

The club should have threatend to move out of the city ages ago if these silly little agencies didn't bend over backwards to gives us what we want. Who are they to try and hold us to ransom.

[Molby]

Are they still pushing their groundshare agenda. Idiots.

 

The club should have threatend to move out of the city ages ago if these silly little agencies didn't bend over backwards to gives us what we want. Who are they to try and hold us to ransom.

 

 

It's quite clear: we are supposed to prove the funding and we haven't

 

the new ownership thing is a side issue for now - if they hold us to ransom over a possible takeover that hasn't happened then we could take issue, but at the moment the best thing to do would be to answer their letters IMO

[Guest BrianF]

It's quite clear: we are supposed to prove the funding and we haven't

 

The European funding commitee seem to have accepted our proof of funding, but not the NWDA, why is that?

 

And you have to laugh at them now giving us ultimatums after trying to hold the project up at every turn while pushing their Groundhare agenda.

 

Maybe they should deal directly with the club and council and not use any excuse to run to their Bluenose mates at the Post.

[IgPig]

Is this not just the same rubbish the post come out with every other week?

[Molby]

The European funding commitee seem to have accepted our proof of funding, but not the NWDA, why is that?

 

And you have to laugh at them now giving us ultimatums after trying to hold the project up at every turn while pushing their Groundhare agenda.

 

Maybe they should deal directly with the club and council and not use any excuse to run to their Bluenose mates at the Post.

 

 

maybe they are more strict - no reason why every agency should be the same

 

IF this is correct, and bear in mind that there are quotes directly attributed to Broomhead here, then why don't we just prove the funding?

[Kopfaithful]

maybe they are more strict - no reason why every agency should be the same

 

IF this is correct, and bear in mind that there are quotes directly attributed to Broomhead here, then why don't we just prove the funding?

 

I was under the impression that the reason LFC won't tell the NWDA the same info as they gave the council in September is because they don't have to, it's information that can remain confidential to LFC. How and where LFC fund the stadium from is apparently nothing to do with the NWDA and providing we underwrite the project, it is no different to any other building/development project happening in the North West and the NWDA don't demand this info off anyone else. Dunno if this it true, just what I was told. Broomhead has a hard on for us because we wouldn't go for the groundshare, it appears to me LFC are having great fun f***ing him about.

[Tosh]

Broomhead has a hard on for us because we wouldn't go for the groundshare, it appears to me LFC are having great fun f***ing him about.

 

in which case, sack Parry!

[Rushian]

It's quite clear: we are supposed to prove the funding and we haven't

 

the new ownership thing is a side issue for now - if they hold us to ransom over a possible takeover that hasn't happened then we could take issue, but at the moment the best thing to do would be to answer their letters IMO

 

If it's any help I've been told the main contractor and sub-contractors have now been appointed and building starts in March.

[johngibo YPC]

If it's any help I've been told the main contractor and sub-contractors have now been appointed and building starts in March.

 

don't tell us, tell them f*****s at the NWDA

[anny road]

Broomhead is a c***

 

fact

[bsl]

don't tell us, tell them f*****s at the NWDA

The question should be why don't the club tell them to stop all this s**** from being printed?

[Guest The Defender]

Whats the new stadium bowl thing being built down by the docks... its huge.

[jon_hall]

That's Evertons new ground, oops no they couldn't afford £30 million to buy into it.

 

It's the new indoor arena and convention centre.

[Falconhoof]

Everton have the council working double shifts to get their new ground through.

 

Groundshare is dead from every angle you look at it.

 

Broomhead can go and f*** himself.