Moores holds up Liverpool takeover

[Maldini]

Badly written, and the sums don't make sense

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtm...6/sfnbos216.xml

 

When Liverpool visited Birmingham last week for the Carling Cup there were two prominent absentees from their 'team'. Neither the chairman, David Moores, nor the chief executive, Rick Parry, was there.

 

It is unusual for either, particularly Moores, to miss a match. I am told that the reason for the absence was that they were in North America visiting George Gillett, the owner of the Montreal ice-hockey team, who wants to buy Liverpool.

 

Parry was recently in Dubai, and although the word was that he was there with his family over half-term, I understand he met Samir Ansari, head of Dubai International Capital, part of Dubai Holdings, who is a fervent Liverpool fan and is interested in buying the club. Parry, it seems, prefers Ansari to Gillett.

 

The supposed Liverpool takeover began two years ago with the then Thai prime minister expressing interest. He has since been toppled, is living in exile in London and has, incidentally, been spotted at Fulham matches.

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There is no resolution and little word from Liverpool about what is happening. I am told that there are two sticking points.

 

One is that Moores gets depressed the moment Liverpool lose and thinks of selling, but then bucks up with a win and does not want to let go.

 

There is also the problem of how much any bidder would pay. Moores is valuing the club at £200million. Liverpool need another £200million for their new stadium. Add in some £30-£50million over the next few years for players and other costs and debts and you are soon looking at £500million.

 

Liverpool have big support overseas, but a bidder with such deep pockets would want to put much of that money into the club, not give it to Moores and the existing shareholders.

 

I understand Gillett told them that he might be willing to invest a total of £450m but would want much of it going into the club for the stadium and players, and would want to take full control and bring in his own people.

 

That, I am told, remains a sticking point for Moores.

[fyds]

The only definitively spot on bit in that is that a new owner, to improve on Moores, would need to have about £500m to play with. Moores doesn't value the club at over £200m - that's its market value.

 

'One is that Moores gets depressed the moment Liverpool lose and thinks of selling, but then bucks up with a win and does not want to let go.'

 

...and that's just crap.

[Tim]

It's that Mihir Bose fella again, ignore anything he writes. He try's to make out he is in the know but clearly has no contacts, while he has also attended the Steve Morgan school of accountancy and economics.

[floyd]

he has also attended the Steve Morgan school of accountancy and economics.

Is that the one taught by Prof. Tom "bluenose cvnt" Cannon?

 

and your'e right about Bose. He is one shyte journo, who passes himself off as intelligent.

Edited November 16, 2006 by floyd

[Rushian]

Why does everyone count the cost of the new stadium in the price of any takeover bid? Is it just me who thinks this is acoc***ing of the worst kind?

[£440,000]

'One is that Moores gets depressed the moment Liverpool lose and thinks of selling, but then bucks up with a win and does not want to let go.'

 

...and that's just crap.

 

Makes him sound like plenty on here though.

 

[Captain Carrot]

Why does everyone count the cost of the new stadium in the price of any takeover bid? Is it just me who thinks this is acoc***ing of the worst kind?

Nope. However it can also be classed as journalism of the worst kind - of which Mihir Bose remains a shining beacon.

[Billy Talbot]

Why does everyone count the cost of the new stadium in the price of any takeover bid? Is it just me who thinks this is acoc***ing of the worst kind?

 

I agree - although I think with us now being committed to the new stadium to get the Euro money, whoever buys us does need to take into "account" building the thing or being sued and losing face for not.

 

£500m - £200m for Moores, £a+b for the Stadium, £x+y for players.

 

At least our Academy and Melwood are done.

 

 

What irks me about all this, a bit anyway, is that Everton's new stadium will be paid for by the money from that Tesco's chairman apparently. The same Tescos who are strongly rumoured to be buying Goodison, a prime spot for them if the Anfield regeneration works. So in effect, we're partly paying for their stadium.

 

Grrr

[Cunny]

The only definitively spot on bit in that is that a new owner, to improve on Moores, would need to have about £500m to play with. Moores doesn't value the club at over £200m - that's its market value.

 

'One is that Moores gets depressed the moment Liverpool lose and thinks of selling, but then bucks up with a win and does not want to let go.'

 

...and that's just crap.

 

 

how does anyone know what Moores feels like after games - you or the journo?

[Herbie von Smalls]

how does anyone know what Moores feels like after games - you or the journo?

body language, duh

 

 

 

 

 

[jon_hall]

As soon as it said telegraph and about finance, could only be Bose, i'm sure the likes of Henry Winter could do a far better job talking about finance than that prat.

[Guest wezza]

I know for a fact that Liverpool's advisors Hawkpoint have been entertaining quite a few people from the far east/Asia lately. Dont think anything has come of it as yet though.

[richt71]

I know for a fact that Liverpool's advisors Hawkpoint have been entertaining quite a few people from the far east/Asia lately. Dont think anything has come of it as yet though.

According to Hawkpoint they no longer represent Liverpool. I believe this happened at the beginning of the year.

[BG]

It's that Mihir Bose fella again, ignore anything he writes. He try's to make out he is in the know but clearly has no contacts, while he has also attended the Steve Morgan school of accountancy and economics.

 

Expect to see/hear more from Bose. As of next year he is head of sport reporting at the BBC.

 

He only really does sport politics. His special area is IOC politics.

 

Don't like him much either but, on the whole, I would say he has more credence in this kind of area than 99% of sports journalists - which isn't that hard.

[Guest tommysmith]

Shoddy Journalism. Parry was in Dubai, but not the same time as Moores was in Canada. This guy just picked up a few t**-bits from supporters sites and made up a story around it. Some points are obviously wrong e.g. the stadium may be costing 200m but grants, naming rights and corporate sales will account for at least half of that. The extra TV money thats coming and extra match day revenue will pay for the remainder in a few years.

He makes no mention of the debts of the club. To prop up the current balance sheet which show lots of short term debt (mostly payments due to other clubs for transfers made on the never-never) a new owner should put in about £40m. That would bring the debts to a managable level.

It is true that Moores is in two minds on the whole takeover issue, but he is not flip-flopping like the article says. Basically he is concerned about getting the right partner. He doesnt want a Glazier situation where debt repayments will become an issue in the forthcoming years.

Finally there was no mention of Parry's reluctance to have anyone on the board that might look like Terrance and Philip for South Park as all Canadians look like that, dont they, eh?

Edited November 16, 2006 by tommysmith

[jon_hall]

Expect to see/hear more from Bose. As of next year he is head of sport reporting at the BBC.

 

He only really does sport politics. His special area is IOC politics.

 

Don't like him much either but, on the whole, I would say he has more credence in this kind of area than 99% of sports journalists - which isn't that hard.

 

But he's pants at knowing anything about the financial side of Liverpool Football Club, and makes things up to sound worse than they are. Hence, he can f*** off and do what he wants as he has a job at a paper. Whether he's any good is another thing.

[Rushian]

According to Hawkpoint they no longer represent Liverpool. I believe this happened at the beginning of the year.

 

They were replaced the summer of 2005 - PricewaterhouseCoopers now advise us.

[chiliking]

I know for a fact that Liverpool's advisors Hawkpoint have been entertaining quite a few people from the far east/Asia lately. Dont think anything has come of it as yet though.

 

 

According to Hawkpoint they no longer represent Liverpool. I believe this happened at the beginning of the year.

 

Ouch!

 

Why is acoc***ing allowed, and t**-bits not? YOU ACOc***S!!!

Edited November 16, 2006 by ChiliKing

[RP]

I know for a fact that Liverpool's advisors Hawkpoint have been entertaining quite a few people from the far east/Asia lately. Dont think anything has come of it as yet though.

 

 

Finger on the pulse there, Wez. Keep us informed, won't you mate?

 

Parry was in Dubai, but not the same time as Moores was in Canada.

 

 

No-one suggested that.

[Tim]

He makes no mention of the debts of the club. To prop up the current balance sheet which show lots of short term debt (mostly payments due to other clubs for transfers made on the never-never) a new owner should put in about £40m. That would bring the debts to a managable level.

 

You mean to nil? The club have bank debts of only £17m while the amounts owed to other clubs stands at around £20m (net taking into account monies owed to us from other clubs). The majority of that is not payable until atleast next season at the earliest. (note these are as at 31st July 2005 balance sheet date). No money needs to be put into the club, externally, to pay the debts as the clubs cashflow is sufficient enough to pay these on time. Working capital isn't great, however the club deals with alot of cash sales and the management of these will be to have them coming in as and when bills need paying.

[anny road]

worst

article

ever

[Ginu]

I am a die-hard fan of the Montreal Canadiens, just as much as I am a Liverpool supporter. In my opinion, these are the most two prestigious teams in all of sport. For those who don't know, the Montreal Canadiens hold the greatest number of trophies of any team in the history of the National Hockey League. Our playoff games in Montreal resemble our European nights at Anfield (that is definitely not an exaggeration although the stadium only holds 21,273 - which is standard in the NHL) and being a supporter of both, I would be chuffed to see George Gillet running Liverpool if any takeover were to happen. He has done wonders for this team in the past few years and with his decisions regarding management we are finally taking the turn for the better. I don't know much about Kraft, but Gillet is a quality option and the future of Liverpool would look very bright in his hands. He's the type of person who wouldn't interfere in Benitez's affairs and to be honest, I see many parallels between the two clubs, from potential to management to players. I'm excited just thinking about it.

 

Just thought I'd give you all a bit of info.

 

EDIT: a youtube video for you from the Montreal Canadiens playoffs last year .. forward to about 1:15

Edited November 17, 2006 by Ginu

[Falconhoof]

Working capital isn't great, however the club deals with alot of cash sales and the management of these will be to have them coming in as and when bills need paying.

 

 

That could be slowing us down in the transfer market?

We seemed to drag out some transfers more than we used to while waiting for players to be sold. It would be useful if Rafa could identify the players he wants and then get them in swiftly rather than have to do an extremely delicate balancing act. I'm thinking of Alves and Simao as possible examples where we've slowed the deal while waiting for sales from our squad ?

[cymrococh]

how does anyone know what Moores feels like after games - you or the journo?

If we lose he runs straight to his room and plays loud music.

[tomasjj]

If we lose he runs straight to his room and plays loud music.