Redwire

Can't you just copy and paste the relevant bit up here?

They are very sh*t which really shows up how poor the Everton crowd has been.

Not a lot. A pretty low quality game so far. The Chelsea fans are completely out singing the blue-shyte lot.

Are all Texans lying c*nts or is this one just a particularly clueless hack? I see his email address is at the bottom of the article so I might ask him later.

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4-0 Another good goal. Arsenal fans leaving after an hour.

Sami Masch Carra

"Tom Hicks, he's got a big fat head" has to echo around Anfield tonight. It's the Liverpool way.

Telegraph's take: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtm...1/sfnfro121.xml

Liverpool will not be sold to Dubai group, insists Hicks By Ian Herbert and Nick Harris Published: 21 January 2008 The Arab investment group which has long had Liverpool in its sights was last night losing its race to take over the club from Tom Hicks and George Gillett before the Americans refinance the £350m debt they incurred buying it. Contrary to reports at the weekend, Dubai International Capital has not made a formal offer for the club and a senior source said yesterday that it is now 90 per cent certain that the Americans will refinance the debt, drastically reducing the chances that DIC will have any interest in buying them out. DIC is understood to have proposed a sum of around £300m to Hicks and Gillett, but that has been rejected and there is increasing frustration in Dubai over Hicks' increasingly outlandish demands. He is understood to have brought demands unrelated to Anfield into the equation and, although DIC will seek discussions this week with Royal Bank of Scotland, which, with the US bank, Wachovia, is refinancing the Americans' loan, the new debt package is likely to go ahead within the next few days. "[DIC] are getting exasperated," said the source. "They want to be involved, they want to put money into the club but they are not going to line the pockets of the [current] owners. They are not desperate and they don't see Liverpool as a trophy asset." Sources in Dubai also categorically denied any formal offer had been made to the Americans yesterday. Last night, Hicks issued a statement insisting he had no intention of accepting an offer for his stake in the club. "I have not received any offer to purchase the club from the DIC or anyone else, much less accepted any such offer," he said. "Nor do I have any intention of doing so. Whoever is behind this false report, the facts are that I and my family have always been, and remain, fully committed to co-owning the club; that no one in my family has ever indicated any intention or desire to sell our stake in the club; and that we expect and intend to be co-owners of the club, and to actively and enthusiastically support the club's manager, players and fans for many years to come." One rumour still circulating is that DIC, the investment arm of the Dubai government, has found a way of meeting Hicks and Gillett's demands while not exceeding its own desired outlay. One major football financier suggested yesterday that DIC representatives would be in Liverpool this week to conclude that deal, which would include Liverpool's debt being taken on by the Dubai state through the issuing of sovereign bonds. But sources in Liverpool categorically deny that any such deal is on the cards. Instead, a £350m refinancing arrangement – covering the £220m cost incurred in the Americans' takeover last year plus investment in the squad, interest payments and money needed to start work on Liverpool's new stadium – is now almost certain to be concluded, making DIC likely to "walk away". That is because DIC wants to conclude its own refinancing arrangements rather than take on the increased debt and because the resolution of the debt issue would give Hicks increased security at Liverpool, allowing him to sit back and see how the club develops. DIC, the investment vehicle controlled by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, one of the world's richest men, has been consistently linked with Liverpool in recent months. It came close to buying the club a year ago and, though negotiations broke down, Hicks and Gillett's desire to put the new debt directly on to Liverpool's books, guaranteed against club assets rather than their own, makes DIC a far more attractive proposition to a club which does not want to be loaded up with debt. The uncertainty over refinancing seemed to have created an opportunity for DIC and it has been in daily contact with Anfield in recent weeks. Persuading Gillett to sell might be one possibility, though it seems that DIC is not interested in his share alone and the best hope might have been that, if Gillett capitulated, then so would Hicks. But Gillett seems to have been persuaded against that. "[DIC] would prefer to have the [whole] club," said the source. The failure to conclude a deal will be a source of dismay to Liverpool, where the absence of any cash investment by the Americans has created a schism with the board which is trying to run the club on a day-to-day basis. Though it is thought the debt may be set against Hicks and Gillett's own corporate structures there has been a growing schism between the board and the owners who, when they took over, said theirs would not be a "Glazer-style" takeover, with the club potentially imperilled by debt set against its assets. http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/pr...icle3356159.ece

I'd like to see them f*cking try.

Hicks Kop out - 'I won’t sell unless the price is right' By JOHN EDWARDS - More by this author » Last updated at 22:11pm on 20th January 2008 Tom Hicks was embroiled in a £300million-plus game of brinkmanship over Liverpool's future last night after rejecting initial overtures from Dubai International Capital to buy him out. As he braced himself for an angry backlash from fans over his treatment of manager Rafa Benitez, Liverpool's co-owner dismissed claims that a deal had been done with DIC and issued a statement insisting he and George Gillett would remain in control at Anfield 'for many years to come'. Despite Hicks' defiant stance, it is understood he is prepared to relinquish control should the Dubai group come up with a price that would suit him and Gillett. Both men will be missing from the directors' box for tonight's televised home game with Aston Villa. They have been warned to expect the first public show of animosity from fans who want them out. Hicks is unlikely to be swayed by such hostility and will base any decision on whether it makes financial sense. He was still standing firm when he denied that a family member had admitted the owners were looking to sell and instead pointed to an imminent double breakthrough as evidence that he intends to push ahead with his long-term aims. He believes a refinancing package crucial to repaying loans and funding the building of a new stadium will go through this week and that detailed plans of the ground, at nearby Stanley Park, will be unveiled in a few days. DIC officials have held preliminary talks with Hicks and Gillett and outlined their eagerness to buy out both Anfeld bosses for about £300m. Though it would appear to represent an immediate profit of around £40m each, there are other factors which have convinced Hicks, in particular, that he should hold out for more. The Americans paid around £180m and absorbed an additional £40m of debt when they took over from David Moores, but they argue that Rafa Benitez's transfer dealings have pushed their total outgoings beyond £250m. With the proposed new stadium likely to add around 20,000 extra paying customers every home game, and new television rights further boosting future income, Hicks is convinced that Liverpool's value could soar over the next few years. He is in no mood to miss out on the chance of a healthy return on his investment and will only allow another handover of power for a price that would reflect prospective future earnings. It is further evidence of his ruthless approach to business, but he could face a dilemma, given that DIC chiefs are just as renowned for driving a hard bargain and are reluctant to increase their valuation by much. With interest charges on the refinancing agreement thought to be as high as £30m a year, Hicks appears to be taking a calculated gamble that could backfire on him should DIC lose patience and walk away from a possible deal. Anfield insiders played down weekend claims that Liverpool could go the way of Leeds and find themselves having to sell their best players to stay afloat. Even so, Hicks, who needs the continuing support of Gillett for the refinancing deal to go through, appears to be playing a dangerous game in allowing a battle of wills to develop between himself and DIC. His relationship with Gillett has become increasingly strained, particularly regarding the way he went public over their recent attempt to instal Jurgen Klinsmann as successor to Benitez, but he is standing by his partner, for now at least. Responding to a claim that agreement had been reached for Liverpool to have new owners, Hicks said: "It is a complete fabrication and is absolutely and categorically untrue. I have not received any offer to purchase the club from the DIC or anyone else, much less accepted any such offer. "Nor do I have any intention of doing so. "Whoever is behind this false report, the facts are that I and my family have always been, and remain, fully committed to co-owning the club. 'No one in my family has ever indicated any intention or desire to sell our stake in the club. "We expect and intend to be co-owners of the club, and to actively and enthusiastically support the club's manager, players and fans for many years to come." http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/arti...d=1779&ct=5

http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark..._hicksville.php

I plan to be very violently abusive. I'm just sad that they won't be there as my spec is in the Paddock in front of the directors box.

No, it was both of them.

Liverpool turmoil grows as Rafael Benitez stays defiant Jonathan Northcroft TOM HICKS and George Gillett face a decision whether to relinquish control of Liverpool or struggle through a gathering mass of problems, after being put on the spot by would-be buyers of the football club, DIC (Dubai Investment Capital). DIC, the investment arm of the Dubai government, were yesterday on the brink of making a formal offer for Liverpool, forcing the Americans to choose whether to stick with their stakeholding – or twist. The DIC bid appeared to be timed to pressure Hicks and Gillett at a vulnerable moment. Supporter opposition to Gillett and Hicks, who last week confirmed that the pair had approached Jurgen Klinsmann about taking over from Rafael Benitez, has hardened to the point where a mass demonstration is planned for tomorrow’s game at Anfield versus Aston Villa. A concerted campaign is also under way to send abusive and threatening email messages to Kekst, the New York public relations company employed by Hicks. The DIC offer also comes at a time of fresh reports of a rift between Hicks and Gillett. Though dismissed by the Americans as rumour, it may be significant the story is being reported in Canada, in a news outlet which has previously had close dealings with Gillett, owner of the Montreal Cana-diens ice hockey franchise. Until now, Hicks has been determined to hold onto his stake, and bring long term plans, including building a new stadium for Liverpool, to fruition. The intentions of Gillett, who has studiously avoided being drawn publicly on his position, continue to remain unclear. DIC appear to think that they can acquire Liverpool, which they attempted to purchase prior to the American takeover in February 2007, by a “divide and conquer” strategy – if they can persuade one of the co-owners to sell, the other may be forced to follow. Until last week, sources familiar with Hicks’ position were bullish that he and Gillett could move the club forward as a partnership and be owners of Liverpool “for a very long time”. The first step in that process would be to complete a £350m deal to refinance debts accrued by the Americans as result of their £220m takeover of Liverpool last year, investment in the playing squad, interest payments and a significant tranche of money needed to commence work on the new stadium. Sources suggested such an agreement would be struck by as early as this weekend. Analysts say such a deal is still immiment, with Tuesday now the more realistic deadline. But others in the City of London note that this has been the Americans’ position since as long ago as November, when they were promising refinancing would be in place before a visit to Liverpool by Hicks and Gillett from December 13. Royal Bank of Scotland and Wachovia, the banks involved, want personal guarantees, said to be worth £150m, from the co-owners as condition of the loan. Some City sources suggest the delay is down to Gillett’s reluctance to do this, with his unhappiness at Hicks’ dealings over Liverpool, which included the local newspaper briefing last week in which he admitted approaching Klinsmann as an “insurance policy” should Rafa Benitez depart as manager. The Klinsmann affair further infuriated supporters already livid about the fact that the refinancing deal proposes loading a signifant amount of debt upon their football club – despite contrary reassurances by Hicks and Gillett – much in the manner the Glazers have done with Man-chester United. Even if the £350m loan is secured, a further £300m will have to be borrowed to build a “new Anfield” on Stanley Park. It is these financial pressures, coupled with their loss of popularity, which is persuading DIC the Americans might now feel it is time to down cards and cash in what chips are on the table. Hicks and Gillett valued Liverpool at £1bn when they had talks with DIC about investing in the club in October. But DIC are said to be offering no more than half that figure in their buy-out proposal. Even so, pocketing £500m would still represent a tidy profit for the Americans, who paid £218.9m less than 12 months ago to gain control at Anfield. There is genuine uncertainty in the City about which way the Americans will go. If one wants to sell, the other has first option on whether to buy him out and even if, for instance, Hicks wished to continue with his plans for Liverpool and Gillett wanted out it would be a costly business for Hicks to go it alone Despite the machinations, Rafa Benitez still expects to be managing Liverpool until the end of his contract in 2010 after a week in which his position appeared to have been seriously, perhaps even critically, destabilised by Tom Hicks. The bullish pronouncement represents a change in tack from Benitez, whose mood until recent days had been so gloomy as to provoke stories that he could leave Anfield by the summer. After further speculation about his future caused by Hicks’ Klinsmann revelation, the Spaniard has decided to come out – or at the very least go down – fighting. His stance will be welcomed by a majority of Liverpool fans, with a demonstration against Hicks and his co-owner, Gillett, planned for tomorrow’s home game against Aston Villa. Benitez had kept his counsel following the Klinsmann disclosure, but asked whether he still expects to be in charge 12 months from now, he replied: “I have a lot of confidence. I have two-and-a-half years left on my contract and I’m really happy and pleased to be here.” He denied his authority had been compromised by the approach to Klinsmann. “You can see the commitment [from the players] has been really good. Training has been more or less the same. I was telling them the most important thing is the club. We must do the best for the club, our fans. It must be like this,” he said. Though the dressing room’s key figures, Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard, have been careful not to be drawn into a debate about their manager’s future, other players, such as John Arne Riise, Sami Hyypia and Xabi Alonso, have come out with expressions of support. Jer-maine Pennant said, “it’s all about stability and building”, likening the long-term work Benitez is attempting to carry out to that of his former boss at Arsenal, Arsène Wenger. Benitez, who may now feel he can outlast the Americans, or at the very least that if Hicks stays he would not risk further unpopularity and tension by sacking him, was bold enough to put forward what amounted to a manifesto. “I have an idea of how to progress,” he said. “The first team is much better with a spine – Xabi Alonso, Steven Gerrard, Daniel Agger, Fernando Torres, Jose Reina – of young players with quality, and other young players like Ryan Babel, Lucas Leiva and Martin Skrtel in the squad. We need to bring some people in but we are much closer. We are signing a lot of young players and the reserve team, with an average age of 17, are second top of their league. That was the plan and we will continue with the plan. I am talking to the players, some of them, a lot of them, say, ‘What is going on?’ ‘Keep going’ is the answer. ‘Try to do your best’. I am working and thinking about the future. Nothing has changed.” http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/foo...icle3216602.ece

Except offering Rafa's job to Klinsmann.

To whom?

It's just a big game of Stratego for Rafa.

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Tom Hicks, he's got a big fat head.

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