LFC SOLD to NESV.

[ILD]

Re: LFC Sold to NESV (New England Sports Ventures)

[quote author=crump link=topic=41783.msg1190988#msg1190988 date=1286458589]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=41783.msg1190985#msg1190985 date=1286458409]
[quote author=crump link=topic=41783.msg1190976#msg1190976 date=1286457650]
I might be being a bit stupid here, but I can't see how Broughton can force a sale at all.

He's got written undertakings to say that he can, but if the yanks don't sign then the club doesn't sell. Broughton could separately sue for breach of those undertakings, but that's a different thing altogether.

By the way, I don't know any of that as fact, it just seems logical. Like if I promised to sell my house under certain circumstances and they then happened, it would still be up to me to sign it over. If I didn't then I could be done for breaking the promise, but the house would remain mine. Or something.
[/quote]

this stuff is always confusing to me - stokeholders v board members

I'm sure everyone here has seen 'spider-man'
there is a scene where normal osborn (the green goblin) is told by his board they are selling the company, osborn is powerless to prevent it even though he OWNS THE COMPANY. HUH?! ???
the same thing is happening here, G&H own 100% of the stock of liverpool and are powerless to prevent the sale.
[/quote]

Haha. I do remember that bit.
[/quote]

*Downloads Spider man. *

 

[spider-Neil]

Re: LFC Sold to NESV (New England Sports Ventures)

delete

 

[Judge Jules]

Re: LFC Sold to NESV (New England Sports Ventures)

Sunny - I'm pretty sure NESV are clued up. The fact that they were interested enough to go through with a bid, despite the fog of uncertainty and conflict surrounding the whole business, indicates that they know how valuable this club is and will be. Ironically enough, the fact that LFC is the one big asset which H and G themselves wanted to hang on to at all costs underlines how highly our future prospects continue to be rated out there.

Neil - are you mad?! The one thing guaranteed to put a High Court judge's back up is an attempt to influence him/her out of court.

What's the difference between a Brussels sprout and snot? You can't get a kid to eat a Brussels sprout.

 

[Sunny]

Re: LFC Sold to NESV (New England Sports Ventures)

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=41783.msg1191012#msg1191012 date=1286459829]
RAWK kop are posting the email address of hick's lawers. bit of a waste of time that, they should hunt down the email address of the judge 😉
[/quote]

None of that is of any benefit now, just detriment and - as JJ says - fucking stupid.

 

[spider-Neil]

Re: LFC Sold to NESV (New England Sports Ventures)

[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=41783.msg1191013#msg1191013 date=1286459834]
This thread's getting really dull now.

Anyone know any jokes?
[/quote]

The crime boss and his attorney meet with his accountant.

"Where's the £3 million you embezzled from me?" demands the gangster.
The accountant is silent. "Where's my £3 million?" the crime boss shouts.
The lawyer explains, "Sir, the man is deaf. Allow me to translate."
So using sign language, the attorney asks the accountant about the money, and the message is relayed back that the accountant knows nothing about it.
Furious, the crime boss pulls out a revolver and puts it to the deaf accountant's head, screaming at the lawyer, "Ask him again where my money is!"
"Okay! Okay!" the deaf accountant signs back. "The money's hidden behind the old tool shed in my back yard."
"What did he say?" demands the enraged crime boss.
The attorney replies, "He says you don't have the guts to pull the trigger."

 

[ILD]

Re: LFC Sold to NESV (New England Sports Ventures)

[quote author=keniget link=topic=41783.msg1190986#msg1190986 date=1286458474]
[quote author=ILD link=topic=41783.msg1190984#msg1190984 date=1286458402]
Thats why you're in the reserves.
[/quote]

The facking reserves.
[/quote]

Ha.

 

[ILD]

Re: LFC Sold to NESV (New England Sports Ventures)

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=41783.msg1191020#msg1191020 date=1286460365]
[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=41783.msg1191013#msg1191013 date=1286459834]
This thread's getting really dull now.

Anyone know any jokes?
[/quote]

The crime boss and his attorney meet with his accountant.

"Where's the £3 million you embezzled from me?" demands the gangster.
The accountant is silent. "Where's my £3 million?" the crime boss shouts.
The lawyer explains, "Sir, the man is deaf. Allow me to translate."
So using sign language, the attorney asks the accountant about the money, and the message is relayed back that the accountant knows nothing about it.
Furious, the crime boss pulls out a revolver and puts it to the deaf accountant's head, screaming at the lawyer, "Ask him again where my money is!"
"Okay! Okay!" the deaf accountant sighs back. "The money's hidden behind the old tool shed in my back yard."
"What did he say?" demands the enraged crime boss.
The attorney replies, "He says you don't have the guts to pull the trigger."
[/quote]

That needs to read as 'Signs' back.

 

[spider-Neil]

Re: LFC Sold to NESV (New England Sports Ventures)

[quote author=ILD link=topic=41783.msg1191023#msg1191023 date=1286460623]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=41783.msg1191020#msg1191020 date=1286460365]
[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=41783.msg1191013#msg1191013 date=1286459834]
This thread's getting really dull now.

Anyone know any jokes?
[/quote]

The crime boss and his attorney meet with his accountant.

"Where's the £3 million you embezzled from me?" demands the gangster.
The accountant is silent. "Where's my £3 million?" the crime boss shouts.
The lawyer explains, "Sir, the man is deaf. Allow me to translate."
So using sign language, the attorney asks the accountant about the money, and the message is relayed back that the accountant knows nothing about it.
Furious, the crime boss pulls out a revolver and puts it to the deaf accountant's head, screaming at the lawyer, "Ask him again where my money is!"
"Okay! Okay!" the deaf accountant sighs back. "The money's hidden behind the old tool shed in my back yard."
"What did he say?" demands the enraged crime boss.
The attorney replies, "He says you don't have the guts to pull the trigger."
[/quote]

That needs to read as 'Signs' back.
[/quote]

ta

 

[Stulikesdrums]

Re: LFC Sold to NESV (New England Sports Ventures)

[quote author=ILD link=topic=41783.msg1191021#msg1191021 date=1286460417]
[quote author=keniget link=topic=41783.msg1190986#msg1190986 date=1286458474]
[quote author=ILD link=topic=41783.msg1190984#msg1190984 date=1286458402]
Thats why you're in the reserves.
[/quote]
The facking reserves.
[/quote]
Ha.
[/quote]

It HAS to be posted....

Harry's Head Hit

 

[ILD]

Re: LFC Sold to NESV (New England Sports Ventures)

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=41783.msg1191026#msg1191026 date=1286460703]
[quote author=ILD link=topic=41783.msg1191023#msg1191023 date=1286460623]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=41783.msg1191020#msg1191020 date=1286460365]
[quote author=TheBunnyman link=topic=41783.msg1191013#msg1191013 date=1286459834]
This thread's getting really dull now.

Anyone know any jokes?
[/quote]

The crime boss and his attorney meet with his accountant.

"Where's the £3 million you embezzled from me?" demands the gangster.
The accountant is silent. "Where's my £3 million?" the crime boss shouts.
The lawyer explains, "Sir, the man is deaf. Allow me to translate."
So using sign language, the attorney asks the accountant about the money, and the message is relayed back that the accountant knows nothing about it.
Furious, the crime boss pulls out a revolver and puts it to the deaf accountant's head, screaming at the lawyer, "Ask him again where my money is!"
"Okay! Okay!" the deaf accountant sighs back. "The money's hidden behind the old tool shed in my back yard."
"What did he say?" demands the enraged crime boss.
The attorney replies, "He says you don't have the guts to pull the trigger."
[/quote]

That needs to read as 'Signs' back.
[/quote]

ta
[/quote]

No hassle Spidey.

 

[localny]

Re: LFC Sold to NESV (New England Sports Ventures)

NEW YORK TIMES TO OWN PORTION OF LIVERPOOL FC

The prospective stake in Liverpool ended up in the hands of 'The Grey Lady' via the New York Times Company's 16.58% stake in New England Sports Ventures.

The New York Times acquired the interest in NESV when it bought the Boston Globe newspaper for $1.1bn in 1993. The media firm has since made steps to sell the stake or reduce it, but so far these have come to little.

In April, the New York Times reduced its stake in NESV when it sold 1.2% to Henry McCance, chairman emeritus of venture capital firm Greylock Partners, and it almost sold the whole stake last year as it mulled closing or selling the Boston Globe.

As well as owning Major League's Boston Red Sox, New England Sports Ventures also owns more than 80% of regional cable network, the New England Sports Network, which could soon be airing Liverpool games, adding an extra flourish of red to its broadcasting output.

The sale of the club to NESV for £300m was announced yesterday morning, as the club struggles with £240m of loans and £40m of fees owed to Royal Bank of Scotland.

The club was saddled with the debt by its current American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, who are arguing the sale to NESV undervalues Liverpool, which languishes near the bottom of the Premier League, and are attempting to block its progress.

Martin Broughton, Liverpool FC chairman, said yesterday that the board had decided to accept NESV's proposal on the basis that it best met the criteria set out originally for a suitable new owner.

He said NESV's philosophy was all about winning and they had fully demonstrated that at the Red Sox, which won the World Series in 2004 and 2007.

Broughton added: "We've met them in Boston, London and Liverpool over several weeks and I am immensely impressed with what they have achieved and with their vision for Liverpool Football Club.

"By removing the burden of acquisition debt, this offer allows us to focus on investment in the team. I am only disappointed that the owners have tried everything to prevent the deal from happening and that we need to go through legal proceedings in order to complete the sale," Broughton said.

 

[Avmenon]

Re: LFC Sold to NESV (New England Sports Ventures)

[quote author=Judge Jules link=topic=41783.msg1190981#msg1190981 date=1286457970]
...to which, through its nominee (in this case Broughton), you had given express permission to make the final decision on whether to sell.
[/quote]

This is the crucial point.

RBS must have given prior instructions to Broughton to accept the NESV offer.

The powers this entails could possibly only come from the terms of the debenture/charge over Kop Holdings.

WHich would suggest that RBS felt confident enough to consider Hicks falue to either refinance or repay the loans to be an act of default.

I'm guessing that the relevant dates for RBS are Oct 6 and NOT October 15th.

I don't see any other constructions, if RBS had not given such instructions I don't see how Broughton could have accepted any offer Without the consent oF the sharehoLders and owners.

aNOTHER possible constuction would be that the contractual terms of Broughton's contract give him enormous powers to do this, and we're just speculating on that point.

 

[localny]

Re: LFC Sold to NESV (New England Sports Ventures)

I think the fact that it happened October 6, cannot be dismissed. Perhaps as you say, on the date, it fell to RBS to do as they please.

Purslow's words about serious buyers not going to the Media jumps out even more. Serious buyers don't need the press attention.

What a Huangker, that guy looks, and you've got to be Kirdhi-ing, me about the Syrian Pizza guy!

 

[localny]

Re: LFC Sold to NESV (New England Sports Ventures)

On a lighter note.

Hicks and Gillett are seemingly making one last effort to keep Liverpool Fc. In a last desperate throw of the dice, Hicks called Ocean Finance yesterday and a transcript of the call has been leaked.

Ocean: Hello Ocean Finance, we’re the lender who will always lend, how can we help today?
Hicks: Hi, my name is Tom Hicks and I’m looking to consolidate my debts and raise extra finance.
Ocean: Well you’ve certainly come to the right place.

Hicks: That sounds great, well I’m looking for a loan in the region of 300 million pounds and need it quickly. I heard if you agree a loan then it’s in your bank the next working day, is that right?

Ocean: Erm, yes Mr Hicks but that’s a very large amount. What is the loan for?
Hicks: I have a business in Liverpool and need to pay off some bank debts. It’s a soccer franchise, the world’s greatest soccer franchise.

Ocean: Ok and how does your business make money, what are your income streams?

Hicks: We make money when our customers come to watch the games we play. We sell them seats in our stadium and we’re the greatest supported soccer franchise in the world. We have a waiting list of people who want to come and watch the games.

Ocean: Fantastic, so you sell out your seats for every game you play?

Hicks: Erm, well we’ve been hit by the recession and games on Thursday nights when there’s a lot on in Liverpool apparently. Our customer base is very loyal to us, they wave banners with my name on at every game and shout chants about me. I can’t work out what they say because of these regional accents they have but it’s encouraging.

Ocean: Oh, well what about any other income streams. How else does a soccer franchise make money?
Hicks: A franchise get’s bonuses each time it wins a trophy. We get the biggest bonuses when we expand into Europe and also bonuses when we come top of the pile of UK franchises. We’re the most successful team at this in the UK.

Ocean: Great, we may be on to something here. How many of these bonuses have you collected in the last 3 years?

Hicks: Erm, none but we have won an awful lot in the past and it’s only a matter of time. We’ve changed our manager and got some new high performing employees so this year could absolutely be our year.

Ocean: Ok, that sounds optimistic. How are your new employees doing so far this year?
Hicks: We got a brilliant young offensive star called Joey Cole. He is one of the best and every other franchise wanted him, he scores goals and makes assists aplenty. We had to pay £80,000 a week to get him but he’ll pay that back by helping us win the trophy bonuses.

Ocean: Ok, it’s always good to have the best employees. How many of these goals and assists has this gentleman made for you so far?

Hicks: It appears he hasn’t made any yet but it’s only a matter of time. He’s one of the best players in the world, our chief employee Mr Gerrard said he is.
Ocean: Can you tell me what security you can offer for a loan. What are your major assets?
Hicks: Well, we have a young man called Fernando Torres who is worth 70 million pounds. He is the world’s greatest offensive star and scores more goals than anyone.

Ocean: That’s impressive. I take it he was top scorer in your franchise league last year and is getting the goals for you this year?

Hicks: Well last year was difficult as players like Darren Bent had fantastic years but Fernando has so far scored a goal against West Brom who are a top level franchise.
Ocean: I’m going to have to speak to my superior Mr Hicks. I have your details and don’t feel you need to contact us, we’ll contact you.

 

[Delinquent]

Re: LFC Sold to NESV (New England Sports Ventures)

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=41783.msg1190985#msg1190985 date=1286458409]
[quote author=crump link=topic=41783.msg1190976#msg1190976 date=1286457650]
I might be being a bit stupid here, but I can't see how Broughton can force a sale at all.

He's got written undertakings to say that he can, but if the yanks don't sign then the club doesn't sell. Broughton could separately sue for breach of those undertakings, but that's a different thing altogether.

By the way, I don't know any of that as fact, it just seems logical. Like if I promised to sell my house under certain circumstances and they then happened, it would still be up to me to sign it over. If I didn't then I could be done for breaking the promise, but the house would remain mine. Or something.
[/quote]

this stuff is always confusing to me - stokeholders v board members

I'm sure everyone here has seen 'spider-man'
there is a scene where normal osborn (the green goblin) is told by his board they are selling the company, osborn is powerless to prevent it even though he OWNS THE COMPANY. HUH?! ???
the same thing is happening here, G&H own 100% of the stock of liverpool and are powerless to prevent the sale.
[/quote]

Trust you to draw a parallel with Spiderman.

 

[Avmenon]

Re: LFC Sold to NESV (New England Sports Ventures)

My gut feeling on this is that RBS viewed Hicks attempt to get rid of Ayres and Purslow as an act of default and a breach of the undertakings given to the bank.

I hope so anyway.

 

[spider-Neil]

Re: LFC Sold to NESV (New England Sports Ventures)

[quote author=Delinquent link=topic=41783.msg1191043#msg1191043 date=1286462131]
[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=41783.msg1190985#msg1190985 date=1286458409]
[quote author=crump link=topic=41783.msg1190976#msg1190976 date=1286457650]
I might be being a bit stupid here, but I can't see how Broughton can force a sale at all.

He's got written undertakings to say that he can, but if the yanks don't sign then the club doesn't sell. Broughton could separately sue for breach of those undertakings, but that's a different thing altogether.

By the way, I don't know any of that as fact, it just seems logical. Like if I promised to sell my house under certain circumstances and they then happened, it would still be up to me to sign it over. If I didn't then I could be done for breaking the promise, but the house would remain mine. Or something.
[/quote]

this stuff is always confusing to me - stokeholders v board members

I'm sure everyone here has seen 'spider-man'
there is a scene where normal osborn (the green goblin) is told by his board they are selling the company, osborn is powerless to prevent it even though he OWNS THE COMPANY. HUH?! ???
the same thing is happening here, G&H own 100% of the stock of liverpool and are powerless to prevent the sale.
[/quote]

Trust you to draw a parallel with Spiderman.
[/quote]

I was hoping peter parker was going to make a bid for us before the 15th but it looks like NESV have beaten him to the punch.

 

[Jack D Rips]

Re: LFC Sold to NESV (New England Sports Ventures)

FROM THE DALLAS NEWS


Liverpool soccer team sale a mess for Hicks

12:00 AM CDT on Thursday, October 7, 2010
By GARY JACOBSON / The Dallas Morning News
gjacobson@dallasnews.com
As baseball legend Yogi Berra would say, it's déjà vu all over again for Dallas financier Tom Hicks and another of his troubled professional sports teams.

This summer, the sale of Hicks' Texas Rangers had to be sorted out in a Fort Worth bankruptcy court. In the process, the transfer of some Hicks-owned land around Rangers Ballpark in Arlington was stripped out of the deal, costing him $75 million or so.

Now, Hicks is disputing a deal for his debt-laden Liverpool soccer team, jointly owned with Colorado businessman George Gillett. The matter is headed to court in England.

Hicks is battling Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton, appointed by Hicks and Gillett in April to facilitate a sale of the team. Broughton, the well-regarded chairman of British Airways, says the Americans will ultimately lose about $220 million on their ownership of the club, which they purchased in 2007.

Hicks says the proposed sale to the owners of the Boston Red Sox, in a deal worth roughly $480 million at current exchange rates, vastly undervalues Liverpool F.C., considered to be among the most valuable sports franchises in the world.

The team could bring twice as much, Hicks believes. Earlier this year, Forbes magazine estimated Liverpool's value at more than $800 million, making it the world's sixth-most valuable soccer franchise.

"We have legal opinions that we were entitled to change the board ... and did," Hicks said in an e-mail Wednesday to The Dallas Morning News.

He referred to a maneuver this week when, he contends, the Liverpool owners replaced two Broughton supporters on the board with Hicks' son, Mack, and another Hicks executive. The reconstituted board doesn't approve of the proposed sale, said Hicks, who is also selling the Dallas Stars hockey team.

But Broughton says he has the final word.

"We need to go to the court to get a declaratory judgment, which is for the court to declare that we did act validly in completing the sale agreement," Broughton said in a Q&A posted on the Liverpool team's website.

Hicks responded in an e-mail to The News: "The Board has no interest in selling the club at less than 50 percent of Forbes value. The court will decide."

In an interview with The News in May, Hicks said he expected to lose a "couple hundred million" dollars on the Rangers and Stars, but would make it all back on Liverpool. That will not happen if this sale to New England Sports Ventures, controlled by John Henry, goes through.

In interviews with reporters in England on Wednesday, Broughton bashed Hicks and Gillett for trying to undo the sale. He said the Americans "flagrantly abused" agreements they made with the Royal Bank of Scotland when they appointed him and gave him control.

Gillett did not respond to a request for comment.

Liverpool faces a mid-October deadline to sell or refinance about $450 million in debt owed to RBS.

Hicks and Gillett have seen growing outrage from Liverpool fans who say the owners reneged on promises to build a new stadium and acquire more star players. Instead, they saddled the team with debt, fans say.

Liverpool, usually one of the powers of the English Premier League, finished a disappointing seventh last season. This year, Liverpool is off to its worst start in more than 50 years, currently in 18th place among the 20 teams.

As trouble on the field grows, so does fan discord. Liverpool supporters flooded media representatives and business executives on both sides of the Atlantic in recent weeks with e-mails – two reporters at The News each received more than 500 – saying it was time for Hicks and Gillett to sell the team. The fans threatened action against businesses that cooperated with the owners.

And this week, supporters released a devastating video with dozens of fans speaking directly into the camera, addressing Hicks and Gillett. Speaking from their hearts, the fans are young and old, male and female, unknown and famous, including Gerry Marsden of Gerry & the Pacemakers and actor Stephen Graham, who plays Al Capone in HBO's Boardwalk Empire.

"You've done enough damage now," one fan says.

"You don't realize what this club means," another says.

"You have no credibility, no morals and no money."

"I want you out."

"Walk away."

"Have the decency to get out now."

On and on they go, for nearly seven minutes.

As disheartened as Liverpool fans have become, they might take some comfort in what happened to the Rangers.

After emerging from bankruptcy court with new owners, the Rangers won the American League West title and, on Wednesday, won their first post-season game in 14 years, over the Tampa Bay Rays, 5-1.
Print | RSS |

 

[spider-Neil]

Re: LFC Sold to NESV (New England Sports Ventures)

hicks is the anti midas, everything he touches turns to shit.

 

[Judge Jules]

Re: LFC Sold to NESV (New England Sports Ventures)

[quote author=Avmenon link=topic=41783.msg1191044#msg1191044 date=1286462253]
My gut feeling on this is that RBS viewed Hicks attempt to get rid of Ayres and Purslow as an act of default and a breach of the undertakings given to the bank.

I hope so anyway.
[/quote]

Wouldn't that be just classic? Hicks attempts to bully his way to his desired outcome, as he probably has a thousand times before, but that very action fatally undermines his position. Karma can be a bitch. 8)

 

[Atlas]

Re: LFC Sold to NESV (New England Sports Ventures)

Who was the poster that said about confectionery named after celestial bodies taster rubbish?
Is that why Star bursts were always better as opal fruits?

space raiders are nice though

 

[Jack D Rips]

Re: LFC Sold to NESV (New England Sports Ventures)

[quote author=Asim link=topic=41783.msg1191077#msg1191077 date=1286468185]
Who was the poster that said about confectionery named after celestial bodies taster rubbish?
Is that why Star bursts were always better as opal fruits?

space raiders are nice though
[/quote]

Totally agree

 

[Squiggles]

Re: LFC Sold to NESV (New England Sports Ventures)

Liverpool's prospective new owners have told Roy Hodgson his position is secure, despite him overseeing the club's worst start to a season for 57 years. Anfield turned against the new manager during Sunday's defeat by Blackpool but while a swift overhaul of the squad is unlikely under New England Sports Venture, the 63-year-old has been guaranteed an opportunity to lead the club's recovery.

Hodgson is under pressure after a dreadful start that has left Liverpool in the relegation zone, with just one league win this season. The former Fulham manager is believed to have a compensation clause in his three-year contract should new owners wish to make their own appointment, but the chairman, Martin Broughton, insists there is no desire from John W Henry, NESV's principal investor, or within the group, for a change.

"There is a commitment to the manager," said the Liverpool chairman. "They are very happy that this manager is the right person to take this club forward."

Beyond Hodgson's position, the impact of the NESV proposal on the on-field fortunes is expected to be significant, albeit that Broughton confirmed it is not a takeover in the mould of Roman Abramovich at Chelsea or sheikh Mansour at Manchester City – "That is right," he said – and is linked to the development of a stadium.

The US proposal includes a commitment to pay off £240m debt in cash, drastically reducing Liverpool's interest repayments, which stood at almost £40m for the year ending 30 July 2009. "It means the club has vast profits available to the levels it always should have had available to invest in the business instead of servicing loans," said Broughton. "Whatever happens, it's massive progress."

There are potentially sizeable revenues to be tapped. "George [Gillett] and Tom [Hicks] have not been all bad," Broughton said of the current owners. "There is this perception that they did nothing at all and were a complete disaster, but if you look at the commercial side of the business they have appointed Ian Ayre, they gave him a mandate and the freedom to do his job as a commercial director, and he has more than tripled revenues. If they had not been leveraged then they would have started the [new]stadium, and we wouldn't being saying what terrible guys these are."

With Uefa's financial fair-play rules due to commence in 2012 – whereby clubs must break even over a rolling three-year period to qualify for European competition – a debt-reduced Liverpool would regain a powerful financial position once a stadium is built. Failing to fulfil the promise to "put a spade in the ground" within 60 days of their takeover cost Hicks and Gillett credibility and trust among Liverpool fans, and the issue was an integral part of NESV's negotiations with Broughton.

"They are committed to stadium development," Broughton said. "It may be through a Fenway-like development [the rebuilt home of the Boston Red Sox] that gets us to a 60,000 stadium at Anfield. It may be a new stadium. They haven't yet been able to make that call because they haven't been able to do sufficient homework to be absolutely clear on the right way forward. They haven't had direct conversations with local councillors, for example, which might be necessary. They are very willing to have those discussions and to have those investigations done as a matter of urgency because they do commit to stadium development.

"They just want to be sure it is the right stadium development. They will fund it with a sensible, normal level of debt and equity. They have had discussions with RBS about financing a stadium, but they are premature, because they don't know what is happening yet."

The Anfield area has suffered badly waiting for the club to meet its stadium promises and, according to the leader of the City council Joe Anderson, redevelopment must be a priority. "While fans will no doubt welcome this as the path to changing fortunes on the pitch, the delays in starting the new stadium have been a huge concern to the city council, and the effect this is having on the wider role of the regeneration of the Anfield community," Anderson said. "Investment in a new stadium must be an immediate priority and I look forward to holding talks with new owners as soon as possible to press home the need for the work to start."

The prospective takeover was welcomed by the defender Jamie Carragher. "Everyone knows it'll be a good thing for the club," he said. "Hopefully it will be sorted sooner rather than later and we can start looking forward on the pitch and start improving results, which is what we need to do."

Broughton indicated that Ayre and the chief executive, Christian Purslow, the two directors Hicks sought to remove from the board before the agreement was reached with NESV, may remain in situ under the prospective new owners.

 

[Squiggles]

Re: LFC Sold to NESV (New England Sports Ventures)

Liverpool's prospective new owners intend to watch the Merseyside derby at Goodison Park on Sunday week providing they win the legal fight to buy the Anfield club for £300m from Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

New England Sports Ventures, together with the Liverpool board members Martin Broughton, Christian Purslow and Ian Ayre, are confident of gaining control of the Anfield club within the next week.

Liverpool face their local rivals Everton on 17 October with the manager Roy Hodgson, who has been assured his position is safe following a change of ownership, under pressure for a result following a dreadful start to the season. And members of NESV, owners of the Boston Red Sox baseball team, have told Broughton, the chairman, they expect to pay a personal visit to the emotive game at Goodison if the deal goes through.

The Liverpool chairman said: "I would be very surprised if they weren't there, certainly if it has gone through. I think you will find that these are people who will come to the matches." The current owners, Hicks and Gillett, have rarely been seen at Anfield during their tumultuous three-and-a-half year reign.

Meanwhile Hicks is determined to fight to hang on to control of the club after refusing to recognise Broughton's authority. Broughton, appointed in April to oversee the sale, revealed yesterday that Hicks attempted to sack Purslow, the managing director, and Ayr, the commercial director, and install his own people in order to block the NESV deal.

That was blocked by Broughton, who insists Hicks signed agreements not to oppose the sale when the club received an extension to their refinancing deal with Royal Bank of Scotland earlier this year. Hicks and Gillett stand to lose a total of £144m if the NESV deal goes through.

Hicks's New York-based spokesman Mark Semer said that Broughton's claim was disputed by the Americans. "There were no such undertakings given to Broughton, the board has been legally reconstituted, and the new board does not approve of this proposed transaction," Semer told Bloomberg News.

After rejecting the attempted coup, which would have seen Hicks's son Mack and Lori McCutcheon, of Hicks Holdings, replace Purslow and Ayre, Broughton continued with the conference call board meeting even though Hicks had put the phone down.

The chairman is confident he and the other two England-based members of the board have acted appropriately but they will not be able to have that confirmed until the issue is thrashed out in court next week.

Hodgson himself has welcomed news of the planned sale. "It's very positive and of course I'm delighted," he said. "It's been going on a long time and I know how hard the board have worked to set things up.

"I know it's not easy for them because the owners have other ideas in terms of the sale of the club and what is achievable. But I was delighted to hear the news and have it confirmed that it looks like it is going to go through."

 

[FoxForceFive]

Re: LFC Sold to NESV (New England Sports Ventures)

So who else was involved in this conference call then?

Regards the (new) Yanks coming to teh derby. No thanks.

Whilst I admire them for wanting to, going to Goodison wouldnt be a good idea IMO, for many reasons. About the only good thing I could see coming out of it is them seeing that shithole & realising what a fantastic & amazing stadium Anfield is compared.

 

[spider-Neil]

Re: LFC Sold to NESV (New England Sports Ventures)

[quote author=FoxForceFive link=topic=41783.msg1191093#msg1191093 date=1286470794]
So who else was involved in this conference call then?

Regards the (new) Yanks coming to teh derby. No thanks.

Whilst I admire them for wanting to, going to Goodison wouldnt be a good idea IMO, for many reasons. About the only good thing I could see coming out of it is them seeing that shithole & realising what a fantastic & amazing stadium Anfield is compared.
[/quote]

I want them to come over and see the turgid shite we are playing, they will probably make a decision on a new manager there and then.

 

[Judge Jules]

Re: LFC Sold to NESV (New England Sports Ventures)

Thanks for posting those articles, Squiggs. Just a couple of comments:

1. My bet is Hodgson will be gone quickly enough if he doesn't pull off a rapid and total change in how we're doing on the field. I doubt any new owners would want to take on the job of appointing a new manager until they'd got their feet properly under the table, but with any luck that won't take long now. I reckon Hodgson's got until then to turn things around.

2. The huffing and puffing from Hicks' side comes from someone who isn't a lawyer but a "spokesman", and isn't British either. Given that (a) this will be played out in an English court and (b) the undertakings on which Broughton's relying were given not to him personally but to the bank, the words of Mr.Mark Semer will hopefully turn out to be just so much pissing in the wind.

 

[FoxForceFive]

Re: LFC Sold to NESV (New England Sports Ventures)

[quote author=spider-neil link=topic=41783.msg1191095#msg1191095 date=1286470904]
[quote author=FoxForceFive link=topic=41783.msg1191093#msg1191093 date=1286470794]
So who else was involved in this conference call then?

Regards the (new) Yanks coming to teh derby. No thanks.

Whilst I admire them for wanting to, going to Goodison wouldnt be a good idea IMO, for many reasons. About the only good thing I could see coming out of it is them seeing that shithole & realising what a fantastic & amazing stadium Anfield is compared.
[/quote]

I want them to come over and see the turgid shite we are playing, they will probably make a decision on a new manager there and then.
[/quote]

Yeah but who's to know if they know what turgid shite is, they may not have a clue!

 

[keniget]

Re: LFC Sold to NESV (New England Sports Ventures)

I think they'll understand losing well enough.

 

[Farkmaster]

Re: LFC Sold to NESV (New England Sports Ventures)

[quote author=keniget link=topic=41783.msg1191098#msg1191098 date=1286471680]
I think they'll understand losing well enough.
[/quote]

Shit is a universal language. I've watched too much football with clueless American's over the years (no offense intended, I'm trying to help) and though it is incredibly primitive, their insistence that we are passing in the wrong direction,and not running in the right direction, is more often right than wrong.