beeb brkng nws

woodlebert · 5th October 2010, 11:06 PM

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ol/9064239.stm

Liverpool have confirmed that two new bids that would wipe out the club's debts have been made, but a huge split in the Anfield boardroom has opened.

A source close to the negotiations said: "Both would significantly reduce the debt and give the current owners their original investment back."

But American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have opposed the bids.

The club said the pair tried to remove managing director Christian Purslow and commercial director Ian Ayre.

Before the board meeting the owners sought to replace the pair with Mack Hicks - son of Tom - and Lori Kay McCutheon, who is vice president at Hicks Holdings.

A Liverpool statement said: "This matter is now subject to legal review and a further announcement will be made in due course.

"Meanwhile [chairman] Martin Broughton, Christian Purslow and Ian Ayre continue to explore every possible route to achieving a sale of the club at the earliest opportunity."

BBC Sport understands the US bid is from Boston Red Sox owner John Henry's New England Sports Ventures.

The three independent members of the board - Purslow, Broughton and Ayre - favour a sale to one of the two new bidders and are weighing up whether to accept.

But it is thought Hicks and Gillett are against accepting as neither bid would see the duo walk away with a profit.

Liverpool were put up for sale by Hicks and Gillett in April with debts of £351.4m.

606: DEBATE
Ten days to go and I for one look forward to the 15th of October with great optimism

DUFC

The pair paid £174.1m to buy the club in 2007, while also agreeing to take on the club's debt of £44.8m.

It was said to be a new dawn for the Anfield outfit, with outgoing chairman David Moores describing it as "a great step forward for its shareholders and its fans".

But little has gone right for either the club or its owners since then.

In August there were abortive bids from Hong Kong businessman Kenny Huang while a consortium fronted by Syrian businessman Yahya Kirdi had also expressed an interest.

Earlier on Tuesday, Kirdi was quoted as saying the group he represents were dropping out of contention, saying: "Once everyone is united and there's logic in the price and the overall deal, me and my group will be prepared to return to the table."

Many of the club's fans have become increasingly outraged at the pair's mismanagement of the club, which is said to be currently £237.4m in debt, and their failure to carry through promises to build a new stadium.

The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has set a deadline of 15 October for that debt to be repaid or a penalty fee of £60m will be due.

If not the bank has the option of extending the deadline once again, or deciding enough is enough and either selling the club to the highest bidder or putting it in administration.

Many fans of the Merseyside club are keen to see RBS call in the debt, even if it means them going into administration and receiving a nine-point penalty from the Premier League as a result.

Whether these bids signal the beginning of the end of a saga that has blighted the club in recent years remains to be seen.

Pirate Jet · 5th October 2010, 11:08 PM

I bet it's Ocean Finance.

mrwhippy · 5th October 2010, 11:15 PM

well am pleased they didnt lend from quick quid.com - they'd owe about 200 billion in interest alone by now.

you just wonder if man utd will end up the same. they looked very average vs us nd have similar debt issues. bring it on!

Paddy O'Dors · 5th October 2010, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pirate Jet

I bet it's Ocean Finance.

Or Northern Rock

Gandalf · 5th October 2010, 11:42 PM

or Wonga.

bongo · 5th October 2010, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Liverpool's shambolic season hit a new low on Tuesday night as owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett blocked the sale of the club and attempted to remove two key members of their own board.

Two new bids for the Anfield outfit were tabled earlier in the day, both of which have been described as 'excellent' by the Premier League club.

Liverpool's board were due to meet to discuss the offers and give the green light for a change of ownership, with both prospective buyers promising to pay off the club's £282million debts.

But in an astonishing move from American duo Hicks and Gillett, they turned down the chance of a sale and have now attempted to remove managing director Christian Purslow and commercial director Ian Ayre from the decision-making process.
A statement on the club's official website read: "The board of directors have received two excellent financial offers to buy the club that would repay all its long-term debt.

"A board meeting was called today to review these bids and approve a sale.

"Shortly prior to the meeting, the owners - Tom Hicks and George Gillett - sought to remove managing director Christian Purslow and commercial director Ian Ayre from the board, seeking to replace them with Mack Hicks and Lori Kay McCutcheon.

"This matter is now subject to legal review and a further announcement will be made in due course.

"Meanwhile Martin Broughton, Christian Purslow and Ian Ayre continue to explore every possible route to achieving a sale of the club at the earliest opportunity."

Sky Sports News understands that one of the offers has come from the owners of the Boston Red Sox baseball team, while the other is from a Far East consortium.

Hicks and Gillett are seeking a figure in the region of £600million but need to find a buyer before 15th October to repay their £282million loans to the Royal Bank of Scotland and Wachovia.

If they are unsuccessful then RBS are poised to take control of Liverpool, the asset against which the loans are secured, and sell the club themselves to recoup their cash.

The American duo have become increasingly unpopular with Anfield supporters, who blame their on-field woes on the behind-the-scenes bickering which exploded further on Tuesday evening.

New manager Roy Hodgson was appointed in the summer following the departure of Rafa Benitez but has come under fire himself after the Carling Cup humiliation at the hands of Northampton and Sunday's dismal home defeat by Blackpool.

http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...430498,00.html

Time to get serious now, these clowns are going to outdo the scum and stupidity at this rate.
G and H OOT!!!