On Our Economic Situation
George Gillett, the Liverpool co-owner, has claimed that the economic situation at the club has "never been stronger" - a statement likely to anger supporters frustrated by the limited transfer funds given to Rafael Benitez this summer and by the lack of progress on building a new stadium.
Benitez, the manager, appeared to be operating with a restricted budget during the transfer window but Gillett, who along with Tom Hicks bought Liverpool in 2007, has told a Toronto radio station that the club's finances were not merely robust but in rude health.
"The club is in outstanding shape," Gillett said. "Economically, it's never been stronger. We just paid down our debt very substantially. We have less debt per dollar than any club in the league." Hicks and Gillett bought Liverpool for £435 million using money borrowed from the Royal Bank of Scotland and Wachovia, but were forced to refinance their debts in July this year. To help ease the financial pressure, Gillett sold his interest in the Montreal Canadiens ice hockey club.
Gillett added that he was "probably" at Liverpool for the long term, but "if someone gets beamed in who's got bags of money, things may change".
New Stadium
The need for a new stadium or a significantly-rebuilt Anfield is apparent but Hicks and Gillett have not succeeded in raising the estimated £500million it would cost to build a new 60,000-capacity home in Stanley Park. A realistic best-case scenario would see the new venue finished in time for the 2018 World Cup finals, some six years later than originally planned.
Gillett said that the stadium plans would be revived "as the world economy gets better - if and when it gets better". He implied that the finished article would be less ambitious than originally envisaged. "We were going to build an iconic stadium previously," he said. "The world economy has certainly suggested that that would be a good suggestion. But in the normal world, building a stadium in the 65,000 to 75,000 seat range - we would look forward to that."
New Shirt Sponsor
The club will unveil a new shirt sponsor on September 18. Their long association with Carlsberg is set to finish at the end of this season. "I think people will be pleased and surprised. It will be one of the great, worldwide corporations.
And I think it will be a sponsor people will be pleased and surprised to be [associated with] Liverpool," Gillett said.
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Just what does he mean by " But in the normal world, building a stadium in the 65,000 to 75,000 seat range - we would look forward to that." ? One moment he seems to be suggesting the stadium will be somewhat less than envisaged then he's saying he looks forward to a 65 - 70k seater !
George Gillett, the Liverpool co-owner, has claimed that the economic situation at the club has "never been stronger" - a statement likely to anger supporters frustrated by the limited transfer funds given to Rafael Benitez this summer and by the lack of progress on building a new stadium.
Benitez, the manager, appeared to be operating with a restricted budget during the transfer window but Gillett, who along with Tom Hicks bought Liverpool in 2007, has told a Toronto radio station that the club's finances were not merely robust but in rude health.
"The club is in outstanding shape," Gillett said. "Economically, it's never been stronger. We just paid down our debt very substantially. We have less debt per dollar than any club in the league." Hicks and Gillett bought Liverpool for £435 million using money borrowed from the Royal Bank of Scotland and Wachovia, but were forced to refinance their debts in July this year. To help ease the financial pressure, Gillett sold his interest in the Montreal Canadiens ice hockey club.
Gillett added that he was "probably" at Liverpool for the long term, but "if someone gets beamed in who's got bags of money, things may change".
New Stadium
The need for a new stadium or a significantly-rebuilt Anfield is apparent but Hicks and Gillett have not succeeded in raising the estimated £500million it would cost to build a new 60,000-capacity home in Stanley Park. A realistic best-case scenario would see the new venue finished in time for the 2018 World Cup finals, some six years later than originally planned.
Gillett said that the stadium plans would be revived "as the world economy gets better - if and when it gets better". He implied that the finished article would be less ambitious than originally envisaged. "We were going to build an iconic stadium previously," he said. "The world economy has certainly suggested that that would be a good suggestion. But in the normal world, building a stadium in the 65,000 to 75,000 seat range - we would look forward to that."
New Shirt Sponsor
The club will unveil a new shirt sponsor on September 18. Their long association with Carlsberg is set to finish at the end of this season. "I think people will be pleased and surprised. It will be one of the great, worldwide corporations.
And I think it will be a sponsor people will be pleased and surprised to be [associated with] Liverpool," Gillett said.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Just what does he mean by " But in the normal world, building a stadium in the 65,000 to 75,000 seat range - we would look forward to that." ? One moment he seems to be suggesting the stadium will be somewhat less than envisaged then he's saying he looks forward to a 65 - 70k seater !
