Here's that new takeover thread

[David Hodgson]

The one with the 'this is Anfield' story in ?

 

Reposting my comment on it :

Gotta love Anfield Rd. Many many words, hints at inside knowledge, but ultimately worse than any tabloid, but they get given some credibility because they champion the right cause.

 

They more than anyone have fuelled the escalation in Purslow paranoia, and although I think they're well intentioned lads I think they get hints of info, take as gospel,and then arrange an interpretation that fits around their preconceptions and then try and pass the whole package off as 'fact'.

 

I don't doubt their premise that Gillet is out for himself and his agenda may differ from RBS but then no new info is required to guess that much. Ultimately though, what are they saying ? That the Broughton and Purslow camp have a viable investor lined up but that G & H want to delay things to get a higher bid in ? I'm losing track of whom the goodies and baddies are in this.

[Damian_de]

The goodies got sacked.

[David Hodgson]

The TIA piece :

 

August 1st, 2010 by Anfield Road

 

George Gillett claims firm interest from a potential buyer – but all, as ever, is not as it seems.

 

As the clock ticks ever closer to the end of another deflating transfer window for Liverpool Football Club, Anfield Road has learned that George Gillett has informed Royal Bank of Scotland and chairman Martin Broughton that he has found a serious investor who is interested in buying the club.

 

Time to rejoice?

 

Maybe not.

 

Anfield Road understands that George Gillett and LFC’s mystery saviour is ex-Syrian international footballer and millionaire businessman Yahya Kirdi.

 

First linked with the club shortly after Martin Broughton’s appointment back in April it was intimated that the Syrian, who was using ex-Celtic player Andy Lynch as a spokesperson for the bid, had the support of “mystery billionaire backers from the Middle East”, a line which should send a shiver down the spine of anyone who’s kept an eye on either Portsmouth or Notts County under the stewardship of Sulaiman Al Fahim and Qadbak/Munto Finance respectively over the last 18 months.

 

Notwithstanding the Notts County and Portsmouth situation, it is understood that even the most rudimentary checks carried out on Mr Kirdi at the time of the initial interest showed his interest and capacity to put together a deal to be fanciful at best.

 

Needless to say, nothing ever came of the supposed interest, but it begs the question: if Yahya Kirdi has neither the inclination nor, more importantly, the means to complete a deal for LFC, why bother putting his name in the firing line in the first place, and to what benefit is it to Gillett for him to do so?

 

That is the question that we at Anfield Road have been trying to find an answer to for the last few days.

 

Exactly what Mr Kirdi has to gain from any involvement is still unclear, it may very well be nothing more than a favour to long-time friend Foster Gillett to help his father out of what is an increasingly tight spot. He does not appear to have anything like the desire for publicity as Prince Faisal bin Fahad bin Abdullah, Mr Gillett’s previous stalking horse, whose appetite for a photo-op was only matched by the vulgarity of his sunglasses.

 

And to what end does it benefit Gillett?

 

It is believed that Gillett was panicked into submitting this new bid for the club under pressure from RBS, and by doing such, delayed any potential forced sale to any other potential buyer as RBS are legally required to listen, as current incumbents, to any such bid brought by either George Gillett or Tom Hicks.

 

The reasons for Gillett stalling the deal are fairly simple; it is clear that the interest anticipated by both himself and Tom Hicks hasn’t materialised and they are facing the reality of walking away with nowhere near the figure they had in mind when they appointed Martin Broughton to oversee the sale process.

 

By forcing an extension it gives Gillett time to, yet again, board a flight to the Middle East, replete with his begging bowl, in an attempt to force an auction for the club with scant regard, as ever, for the club or its supporters which in reality only serves to deter interested observers as they are understandably reluctant to be ripped off by this particular snake-oil seller.

 

It is worth bearing in mind that whilst it is Martin Broughton’s duty to sell the club to the best possible candidate (not necessarily the highest bidder), Gillett is only interested in getting the highest possible price for his stake in the club.

 

There is more than a hint of irony in all of this as it was only last month Gillett was letting it be known to certain members of the press that he was desperate to sell, but it was the greed of Tom Hicks that was holding up a sale.

 

Not that we should be surprised by this; Gillett has always been the “cute” one of the arrangement, Tom Hick’s inability to keep his foot out of his mouth and his name out of the papers allowed Gillett to keep a relatively low profile, two incidents apart when he was caught lying on record by both SOS and a fan who had the nous to record a conversation in which it was a struggle to pick out a single truth.

 

That aside, and ultimately more importantly at the minute, is that what isn’t clear is just how much extra time RBS are legally obliged to grant this proven liar to play his silly games and how much time they are affording him out of courtesy or misguided loyalty. By affording Gillett such grace, RBS are playing a dangerous game with the future of one of the most important football clubs in the world.

 

The rest of it :

 

Anfield Road is aware that an absolutely serious party is ready and willing to move in right now. Further delay will be disastrous for the club and unless the bankers at RBS finally come to terms with the reality of the situation they risk facing a disaster of their own with the money they have tied up in the club.

 

It may take further pressure from supporters, SOS and ultimately Martin Broughton to force RBS to bring an end to this sorry charade, kicking Gillett and Hicks out and allowing suitable, capable and committed ownership in.

[Benzo-13]

Last time around Kirdi was a front for either the Saudi's or Abu Dhabi.

[Falconhoof]

Last time around Kirdi was a front for either the Saudi's or Abu Dhabi.

 

how do you know ?

[Benzo-13]

how do you know ?

Saw an article somewhere that he fronts for bigger investors.

[Falconhoof]

Saw an article somewhere that he fronts for bigger investors.

 

yes I know but I think the article that DH links above puts forward the argument that he was a bluffer. Not sure mate. he certainly didn't look serious and each time these rumours go round it seems to buy Gillet and Hicks a bit more time.

[David Hodgson]

yes I know but I think the article that DH links above puts forward the argument that he was a bluffer. Not sure mate. he certainly didn't look serious and each time these rumours go round it seems to buy Gillet and Hicks a bit more time.

 

I'm not sure we're at the stage anymore where Broughton and RBS are going to cut any more slack on the basis of rumours. If they are though, TIA can only be helping by adding their own rumour. Shirley ?

[Keita]

From the Sunday Times, doesn't sound good imo:

 

Sunday Times reporting Kirdi as Gillett's mystery LFC bidder.

 

Mystery Syrian bidder stalks £400m Liverpool FC

 

A former Syrian footballer is understood to be the preferred bidder for the debt-plagued club, but there are doubts about his finances

 

Ben Marlow

 

Published: 1 August 2010

 

George Gillett, the co-owner of Liverpool Football Club, has lined up a mysterious Syrian businessman to become an investor in the club.

 

Gillett is in talks with Yahya Kirdi, a former Syrian international footballer who claims to be fronting a consortium of Arab investors.

 

He is understood to be Gillett’s preferred bidder among a host of potential investors that have expressed interest in recent months. The American has introduced Kirdi to senior Liverpool officials and the club’s bank, Royal Bank of Scotland, which is owed £300m by the club.

 

Bankers say the club is likely to attract bids north of £400m. It is unclear whether Kirdi is planning just to take a stake or mount a full takeover.

 

Gillett and fellow American co-owner Tom Hicks were forced to put the club up for sale after mounting debts and a poor performance on the pitch last season. The team’s failure to qualify for the Champions League is estimated to have cost it £40m.

 

The accounts for Liverpool’s parent company, Kop Football Holdings, reveal record losses of £55m last year, total debts of £473m, and interest payments of £40m.

 

In April, Barclays Capital was mandated to scour the globe for investors after several previous attempts to find new backers failed. Martin Broughton, the British Airways chairman, was brought in as chairman to oversee the process.

 

However, there are doubts about Kirdi and whether he has the finances in place to invest in the club.

 

It is the second time the Syrian has held talks about a takeover. In April, tabloid newspapers reported that he was in advanced discussions with Gillett and Hicks.

 

It was claimed Kirdi was a millionaire with substantial backing from the United Arab Emirates royal family. It was also reported that he knew Gillett and his son Foster personally. The talks between the two sides were being brokered by Andy Lynch, a Celtic footballer in the late 1970s. However, the discussions broke down within days and Lynch claimed that Gillett had reneged on an agreed deal.

 

Since then Barclays has received interest from a range of potential investors. The Rhone Group is thought to be considering resurrecting its bid.

 

The New-York-based investment group came close to buying a 40% stake in Liverpool before Kirdi first held talks.

 

Meanwhile, Eggert Magnusson, the Icelandic biscuit baron who was part of the consortium that owned West Ham, is among a number of parties to have expressed interest in investing in Sheffield Wednesday.

[McBain]

The TIA piece :

Anfield Road understands that George Gillett and LFC’s mystery saviour is ex-Syrian international footballer and millionaire businessman Yahya Kirdi.

 

 

Anfield Road's ability to read the times newspaper is very impressive

[Falconhoof]

I'm not sure we're at the stage anymore where Broughton and RBS are going to cut any more slack on the basis of rumours. If they are though, TIA can only be helping by adding their own rumour. Shirley ?

 

Maybe helping, or maybe easily batted aside or ignored. Broughton must be coming under pressure as we get through the transfer window. Surely even the most patient fans would have expected him to have taken the process forward by now.

My fear is that he's been appointed by Hicks and Gillet to give the impression that investment is imminent, to quell the baying mob, to get through the summer with season tickets and merchandise being sold while they keep the club until a time that suits them better. I don't know why, maybe they are expecting market conditions to steadily improve and for the value of the club to have risen over the coming season. Maybe they enjoy the rollercoaster and the gamble of seeing what would happen if they can work the club into a position where its functioning well and they are paying down debt and building a stadium.

[KIDORIGINAL]

I've said it before, there has always been a middle-eastern consortium at the table. The leak has probably come from these guys as there is definitely more than one party interested.

[Zoob]

So we're back to looking for investors rather than new owners?

[smithdown]

So we're back to looking for investors rather than new owners?

 

They can't have turned us into that much of a basket case that no-one anywhere wants to own us outright.

[Zoob]

They can't have turned us into that much of a basket case that no-one anywhere wants to own us outright.

 

unfortunately none of the bids for outright ownership were reasonable, and so having said they would accept any reasonable offer they have to stick by this and not accept offers that are not reasonable.

 

Why is the Sunday Times even writing about this Syrian bloke being favoured by Gillett, when Broughton clearly told us that the owners have stepped aside regarding the sale?

[muleskinner]

he's a stalking horse to flush out the hordes of trillionaires who are jostling for position at the negotiation table

[floyd]

First round of bids done by mid July, eh Broughton, you lying fvcker

[McBain]

First round of bids done by mid July, eh Broughton, you lying fvcker

 

Far be it for me to be positive, but the lack of stuff in the media can be construed as a good thing. Generally if stuff is in the media it's total b******s

[Zoob]

First round of bids done by mid July, eh Broughton, you lying fvcker

 

Nothing to say this didn't happen.

 

Still find it strange that the ST would write such an article. maybe because it's been so quiet, they decided to write about what ever scrap of info they stumbled upon

 

Far be it for me to be positive, but the lack of stuff in the media can be construed as a good thing. Generally if stuff is in the media it's total b******s

 

inclined to agree with this. all the bulls*** texts and e-mails going round a month or so back about detailed deals etc, when with this sort of stuff most of the time it's high level enough for people to know that their careers are over if they leak stuff to the media, so you normally don't hear about it until it's actually imminent.

[smithdown]

I know we'd like to think there has been progress behind closed doors but realistically there are journalists who will write about any aspect a takeover given the chance, and not one of them has any sort of scoop, any sort of hint as to who has bid and how much. Not one leak from anywhere, not even from the club that 'things are progressing'.

 

Either every bidder, every journalist, everyone at the club and everyone at RBS and other interested parties have suddenly become models of discretion (hats off to them if they have) or we are no nearer getting shut than we were when Purslow and then Broughton were offered a tidy bit of graft.

[MickC]

Either every bidder, every journalist, everyone at the club and everyone at RBS and other interested parties have suddenly become models of discretion (hats off to them if they have) or we are no nearer getting shut than we were when Purslow and then Broughton were offered a tidy bit of graft.

 

Maybe that's not a wild stretch of the imagination, given Broughton is running the show, not going to look too good on his immaculate cv that he presided over a leaky due diligence.

 

I think it's quite likely that when the sale finally does happen (f*** knows how long away that is) it'll come out of nowhere

[chrisbonnie]

Let's be honest lads,

 

Nothing is going to happen, it's so obvious that these scumbags are spinning us more s****

 

Employing broughton was just another front

 

All b******s IMO

[Scruffysa]

Broughton literally said that if there is news in the papers then it's a load of b****x....

 

Broughton also said that the owners have stepped aside and accept the outcome of the 'auction' that is to take place....

 

Floyd....everybody wants news on the takeover fella, but just because he hasn't come out and said that there are 'so many bids' and 'this is the next step', doesn't make him a lying fvcker...

 

Yeah I agree that this time there are going to be hardly any leaks of information at all...other than from the horses mouth...can't imagine any Barcap employee wanting to lose their job via gross misconduct...can't imagine Barcap wanting to lose face by not running a tight ship...can't imagine Broughton wanting to feck up his reputation by not finding the best solution for us (from the offers on the table)....

 

Unforunately I guess we can only wait...frustrating though isn't it? Maybe I'll make up a rumour to pass the time...I know, maybe I'll ignore the facts of the matter and say that one of the owners are in talks with a (insert b****x here) ......

 

Then again maybe it's true...who knows....well I would say maybe the board..a manager or two at Barcap....er....Chairman at RBS....anyone else? Certainly not Dave from down the road\pub\forum\Barcap Junior Manager\anywhere else....

 

I really want to hear something though, hurry up and do it, and get them pr!cks out of our club...

 

YNWA

[Billy Dane]

What's interesting about today's piece in the Times is that it is the "lead" story in the business sestion rather than the sports section. Potentially leads more credence to the piece IMO, as it is aimed at the business market rather than the "average" fan. Trying to up the ante with the bids*?

 

 

 

 

* assuming bids have happened/ are imminent etc etc

[Davvo]

What's interesting about today's piece in the Times is that it is the "lead" story in the business sestion rather than the sports section. Potentially leads more credence to the piece IMO, as it is aimed at the business market rather than the "average" fan. Trying to up the ante with the bids*?

 

 

 

 

* assuming bids have happened/ are imminent etc etc

 

It was a planted article of that there is no doubt. The trick as always, is figuring out who planted it, and why, as there is always more than 1 possibility. My guess is GG or TH, planting something in a desperate attempt to flush out someone with more cash, before a sale is agreed that doesn't make them much, if any, profit. Of course, there are other possibilities, and it could just as easily be Broughton planting to try and get someone/anyone to the table.

 

There's one thing for certain, we know even less about the takeover situation than we do potential transfers, everything in the papers is either speculation or attempts to push the agenda of one party or another.