a bit of an optimistic tone to this one to lift the mood a bit............
Amid the nervous fanfare of a new manager’s arrival at Anfield last week, some significant announcements crept out, almost unnoticed.
One was that new boss Roy Hodgson recognises implicitly the standing that Kenny Dalglish has at the club, and will ask him to fulfil a new role covering ‘player development at all levels’, which sounds suspiciously like something a director of football would do.
The other – and perhaps most significant in terms of the future of Liverpool Football Club – was almost a throwaway line from chairman Martin Broughton, who was wheeled in to handle what was clearly felt to be a sensitive press conference.
When questioned on persistent rumours about an impending takeover, he insisted that, contrary to the myth an announcement would be made on July 17, nothing was imminent.
But he reiterated the idea that he and his fellow board members now had jurisdiction over any sale, leaving American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett on the outside of the process, looking in.
In the desperate conflict that has developed in trying to rid Liverpool of their disastrous ownership regime, that is just about the best news supporters could have received in recent weeks. If it proves to be true.
Broughton explained that there have been no bids so far, but several expressions of interest, and the first round of talks with all parties should be underway by mid-July.
In effect, an auction will then take place, with the board deciding which is the best offer, and then pushing a sale through, even if it isn’t the highest bid. In effect, the chairman was suggesting he will decide what is best for Liverpool, and not necessarily best for the Americans.
Under normal circumstances, you would treat such claims with a scepticism derived from three years of wild claims and false statements from the Yanks who have brought Anfield almost to its knees.
Yet, put into context, there is reason to attach cautious optimism to the announcement. For a start, Broughton is a big beast in the business world, whose reputation transcends Liverpool.
He was approached by a friend of Hicks and brought in by Barclays Capital, to add credibility to what was a busted process. The simple equation was, Liverpool was a company worth buying, the figures all added up, but no one trusted or believed those who were selling.
Broughton’s position as a heavyweight of British business, with such a cast-iron reputation, opened doors that were previously closed. But by the same token, he will not risk that reputation, by getting involved in any American spin or dubious dealings.
There is a rumour on the business grapevine that Willie Walsh, the chief executive of British Airways, is not best pleased with his chairman at B.A. Broughton’s involvement at Anfield, given their own very high profile problems at the moment. It is tolerated, apparently, because of the sense that there can be a swift, relatively unmessy conclusion to the process.
Given that his reputation is so obviously at stake, there is no reason to believe anything other that Broughton’s words were accurate last week, which offers hope, because at the right price, there will be plenty of attractive alternatives to the American ownership.
But the other side of that equation is the fact that Broughton must now deliver. He talks about finding the right owners for Liverpool, and talks about doing that even by the end of August if negotiations go well.
With his credibility at stake, he now has to demonstrate that it can be the case. Too often in the last two years, we have been offered vague promises of movement towards a new regime, and nothing has happened.
If Broughton has the power to push a deal through, then he must do it. He must be strong in keeping Gillett and especially Hicks at arms length, and clever in out manoeuvring what will be their inevitable objections.
In America, Hicks has lost control of his Texas Rangers franchise, after defaulting on loans and going into the bankruptcy courts. Yet, because of his vast business experience, he still seems able to dictate the terms of the forced sale of the baseball club.
Clearly, the same could happen at Liverpool, even though he has apparently given his word over a sale to Barclays Capital. So strength is required, although those who have dealt with the B.A. chairman suggest he is not lacking in that area.
What he doesn’t have though, is a vast working knowledge of football (he can’t have if he’s a Chelsea fan!), and what he has to recognise quickly is what constitutes the right owner for Liverpool.
Let’s face it, there are few benevolent billionaires out there, and as much as a fans’ ownership has it obvious attractions, it is hard to envisage a situation where enough money can be raised to make that situation a reality.
Which means there are depressingly few options when it comes to deciding on a suitable new owner for Liverpool. In essence, it will come down to who is best placed to run the club, and maximise its potential.
One of the worst aspects of the American ownership has been the constant gloom their presence envelopes the club in. Because of the debt placed on the club, there is no chance of making any profits, even if it is run properly.
In recent years, the commercial team led by Ian Ayre and Philip Nash have transformed the operation from an almost amateur, bumbling commercial enterprise, to one that now rivals the likes of Manchester United. They had one sponsor, now they have 12 and counting.
They had one club store, now there are many, they had no presence in the far east, now they are the strongest club out there. Yet all that good work is being submerged by ridiculously high interest payments.
What Broughton must do is deliver owners who will not place debt on the club. RBS chief executive Stephen Hester said as much in an interview last week – and his company makes money out of that debt!
There are many who say Liverpool are doomed, seem to revel in their predictions they will lose all their best players and become a mid-table mediocrity. But there is another scenario if Broughton delivers.
Under the right ownership, with little debt placed on the club, a new stadium can be built quickly, and the commercial gains made recently can be developed even further. With the right infrastructure, with the right people at the helm, Liverpool can be amongst the biggest in the world.
Released from the misery of debt, they will make their rivals down the road at Old Trafford extremely worried, because Liverpool are still amongst the biggest, widest supported clubs in the world. Without debt last year, there would have been upwards of £70million to spend on new players.
Of course, that scenario is only possible if Broughton gets it right. So Liverpool fans must ask their new chairman not only to protect his own reputation by delivering on his word, but protect the reputation of one of the world’s historic clubs, because he would be doing a service to the whole of football.
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/david-maddock/David-Maddock-column-Why-Liverpool-chairman-Martin-Broughton-not-Roy-Hodgson-now-has-the-biggest-say-in-Anfield-s-future-as-he-seeks-a-buyer-for-Tom-Hicks-and-George-Gillett-article517841.html
Amid the nervous fanfare of a new manager’s arrival at Anfield last week, some significant announcements crept out, almost unnoticed.
One was that new boss Roy Hodgson recognises implicitly the standing that Kenny Dalglish has at the club, and will ask him to fulfil a new role covering ‘player development at all levels’, which sounds suspiciously like something a director of football would do.
The other – and perhaps most significant in terms of the future of Liverpool Football Club – was almost a throwaway line from chairman Martin Broughton, who was wheeled in to handle what was clearly felt to be a sensitive press conference.
When questioned on persistent rumours about an impending takeover, he insisted that, contrary to the myth an announcement would be made on July 17, nothing was imminent.
But he reiterated the idea that he and his fellow board members now had jurisdiction over any sale, leaving American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett on the outside of the process, looking in.
In the desperate conflict that has developed in trying to rid Liverpool of their disastrous ownership regime, that is just about the best news supporters could have received in recent weeks. If it proves to be true.
Broughton explained that there have been no bids so far, but several expressions of interest, and the first round of talks with all parties should be underway by mid-July.
In effect, an auction will then take place, with the board deciding which is the best offer, and then pushing a sale through, even if it isn’t the highest bid. In effect, the chairman was suggesting he will decide what is best for Liverpool, and not necessarily best for the Americans.
Under normal circumstances, you would treat such claims with a scepticism derived from three years of wild claims and false statements from the Yanks who have brought Anfield almost to its knees.
Yet, put into context, there is reason to attach cautious optimism to the announcement. For a start, Broughton is a big beast in the business world, whose reputation transcends Liverpool.
He was approached by a friend of Hicks and brought in by Barclays Capital, to add credibility to what was a busted process. The simple equation was, Liverpool was a company worth buying, the figures all added up, but no one trusted or believed those who were selling.
Broughton’s position as a heavyweight of British business, with such a cast-iron reputation, opened doors that were previously closed. But by the same token, he will not risk that reputation, by getting involved in any American spin or dubious dealings.
There is a rumour on the business grapevine that Willie Walsh, the chief executive of British Airways, is not best pleased with his chairman at B.A. Broughton’s involvement at Anfield, given their own very high profile problems at the moment. It is tolerated, apparently, because of the sense that there can be a swift, relatively unmessy conclusion to the process.
Given that his reputation is so obviously at stake, there is no reason to believe anything other that Broughton’s words were accurate last week, which offers hope, because at the right price, there will be plenty of attractive alternatives to the American ownership.
But the other side of that equation is the fact that Broughton must now deliver. He talks about finding the right owners for Liverpool, and talks about doing that even by the end of August if negotiations go well.
With his credibility at stake, he now has to demonstrate that it can be the case. Too often in the last two years, we have been offered vague promises of movement towards a new regime, and nothing has happened.
If Broughton has the power to push a deal through, then he must do it. He must be strong in keeping Gillett and especially Hicks at arms length, and clever in out manoeuvring what will be their inevitable objections.
In America, Hicks has lost control of his Texas Rangers franchise, after defaulting on loans and going into the bankruptcy courts. Yet, because of his vast business experience, he still seems able to dictate the terms of the forced sale of the baseball club.
Clearly, the same could happen at Liverpool, even though he has apparently given his word over a sale to Barclays Capital. So strength is required, although those who have dealt with the B.A. chairman suggest he is not lacking in that area.
What he doesn’t have though, is a vast working knowledge of football (he can’t have if he’s a Chelsea fan!), and what he has to recognise quickly is what constitutes the right owner for Liverpool.
Let’s face it, there are few benevolent billionaires out there, and as much as a fans’ ownership has it obvious attractions, it is hard to envisage a situation where enough money can be raised to make that situation a reality.
Which means there are depressingly few options when it comes to deciding on a suitable new owner for Liverpool. In essence, it will come down to who is best placed to run the club, and maximise its potential.
One of the worst aspects of the American ownership has been the constant gloom their presence envelopes the club in. Because of the debt placed on the club, there is no chance of making any profits, even if it is run properly.
In recent years, the commercial team led by Ian Ayre and Philip Nash have transformed the operation from an almost amateur, bumbling commercial enterprise, to one that now rivals the likes of Manchester United. They had one sponsor, now they have 12 and counting.
They had one club store, now there are many, they had no presence in the far east, now they are the strongest club out there. Yet all that good work is being submerged by ridiculously high interest payments.
What Broughton must do is deliver owners who will not place debt on the club. RBS chief executive Stephen Hester said as much in an interview last week – and his company makes money out of that debt!
There are many who say Liverpool are doomed, seem to revel in their predictions they will lose all their best players and become a mid-table mediocrity. But there is another scenario if Broughton delivers.
Under the right ownership, with little debt placed on the club, a new stadium can be built quickly, and the commercial gains made recently can be developed even further. With the right infrastructure, with the right people at the helm, Liverpool can be amongst the biggest in the world.
Released from the misery of debt, they will make their rivals down the road at Old Trafford extremely worried, because Liverpool are still amongst the biggest, widest supported clubs in the world. Without debt last year, there would have been upwards of £70million to spend on new players.
Of course, that scenario is only possible if Broughton gets it right. So Liverpool fans must ask their new chairman not only to protect his own reputation by delivering on his word, but protect the reputation of one of the world’s historic clubs, because he would be doing a service to the whole of football.
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/david-maddock/David-Maddock-column-Why-Liverpool-chairman-Martin-Broughton-not-Roy-Hodgson-now-has-the-biggest-say-in-Anfield-s-future-as-he-seeks-a-buyer-for-Tom-Hicks-and-George-Gillett-article517841.html
