The last pearl in the English FA sea of clubs left to be taken over looks set to finally meet and discuss the possibility of selling up, again. Liverpool Football Club, which has been trying to find the right buyer for the past three years, will meet on Thursday to discuss the shortlist of which surprisingly contains the name of an eminent Dubai super player.It is believed that Dubai International Capital (DIC), the private equity arm of the Arab state is one of three – along with George Gillett, the owner of the Montreal Canadians ice hockey club and John Miskelly, the Belfast-based property millionaire - looking to buy out David Moores, who currently owns 51% of the club.The English are very protective of their clubs and whoever own them, especially the traditional giants of the game. They still view Roman Ambramovich as a leech, who is up to no good and is in it for himself somehow, even though he's wasted £300 million of his own money in doing so! Even the American Glazers that took over Manchester United are considered parasites that have corrupted the beautiful game and sold out the ordinary fan even though it fails to escape most of them that the Glazers acquired the club through legitimate means.Not so long ago Thaksin Shinawatra claimed he had actually taken over Liverpool FC and within hours the internet was full of irate fans questioning the ethics of someone like Shinawatra owning their beloved club. (By the way Shinawatra never really recovered from failing to buy the Reds, ultimately being kicked out of Thailand)DIC and Gillett can no doubt expect the same courtesy; to have their financial and private lives thoroughly probed just because they have the audacity to take over an English football club.
The Liverpool board have said they are in "continuing discussions with a number of parties regarding a potential investment of new funds" that "may include an offer for the entire share capital of the club".
The Liverpool board are looking for new investment in the club and are rumoured to be in negotiation with several possible investors and expect a share valuation in the region of £200 million.
Leading the way in the takeover bid is Spanish tycoon Juan Villalonga, who has been constantly linked to the club in the past few days. The Spaniard’s interest could certainly have been spiked by Liverpool’s success last year in the UEFA Champions League and also from the Spanish influence at the football club, which includes manager Rafa Benitez and star midfielders Xabi Alonso and Luis Garcia.
With a background in telecoms, Mr Villalonga is reported to have accepted a £14 million payoff when he left Spanish company Telefonica last year.
Liverpool FC have been searching for extra investment into the club for the past three years. Several well-documented takeover attempts have been rejected by the Liverpool board, including bids by Liverpool builder Steve Morgan and also a rumoured shares buyout by Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Central to any takeover bid would be a good new stadium plan, as Liverpool FC have been looking to move from Anfield for several years.
In December 2006 Liverpool FC announced that the investment group, DIC, were considering buying out the club. They completed their due-diligence of the club and the offer of £450 million was convincing to the public that this was nearly a done-deal. Subsequently George Gillett and Tom Hicks, both US tycoons, made an improved offer which saw Dubai Investment Capital pull out completely almost immediately afterwards. The Chief Executive of Liverpool FC Rick Parry, said the club "felt bullied" by DIC and did not want to make a decision to sell the club too quickly.
On February 6th 2007 at 14:00hrs GMT, George Gillett, owner of the Montreal Canadiens and Tom Hicks, owner of the Dallas Stars and the Texas Rangers respectively, took control of Liverpool FC in a deal worth £470 million. The Liverpool board of directors were unanimous and advised shareholders and Chairman David Moores (with his 51% stronghold) to accept the offer
of £175 million. The deal also included £45 million of club debt and £215 million for the new stadium proposed for Stanley Park, with building expected to begin within 60 days. In the same press conference the new owners commented that the new stadium could sell naming-rights should it allow them added funds to bring in "one great player" a season.
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