“We have stood still for three years. We want the club sold and to someone with money. Yes, £600million is a lot but the club has a lot of assets. There are people with that kind of money and we hope they’re prepared to invest in Liverpool.”
These are the words of Richard Pedder, of Liverpool FC Supporters Club. Now the Anfield fans may be delighted if they can get rid of the Americans but just how did a £600m asking price come about?
Liverpool are lucky that they got the help from Barclays so that £100m of a £237m was demanded to be paid back this summer and this in turn led to Tom Hicks and George Gillett being very stuck! The problem is that owners are effectively buying clubs through a loan purpose- not their own money.
Look at the situation at Manchester United. These characters called the ‘Red Knights’ are saying that they can come up with a supposed £1bn to buy United but we all know that’s easier said than done. In addition to that, such a massive asking price is going to require patience from fans that have suffered a lack of on-pitch success.
Are Liverpool demanding too much? Surely something has to give if they want a new stadium and instant results? That’s where we come to the Fernando Torres/Steven Gerrard will they won’t they? It seems more likely that Torres would be the one to leave for a lack of success more than the money situation but Gerrard, on the other hand, is LFC through and through. However, because of the fact that repayments of their debts has been extended it seems unlikely that they would have to sell their captain.
The fans seem intent that the owners, plus a combination of many poor signings, are the main reasons for the mess Liverpool find themselves in but as the old saying goes ‘beggars can’t be choosers.’ They want the club to deliver the success it has done in the past but the decision to sell happens to be more of a factor that had Barclays stepping in. The new chairman, Martin Broughton, and how he goes about his business is now crucial to what will happen in the future at Anfield.
All in all, Hicks and Gillett must be mad to think that £600m can be forked up easily. This ongoing dispute could end up having the twists and turns that are currently happening in the title race, but this is becoming a money making game. Has Barclays stepping in meant that Liverpool have been bailed out for some time? Can Broughton keep the likes of Gerrard and Torres? Either way, this along with all eyes on the sale, is something that is fundamental to the club moving forward or not.
You can follow me on www.twitter.com/prashster
About the Author
How the hell can we comment when we cannnot read the damned thing due to that absolutely STUPID ad?
“Gerrard is Liverpool through and through”?
That’s pretty good, except that he was angling for a move to Chel$ki not so long ago until death threats on his family changed his mind.
@AntiOnan
Without the aid of Bob The Builder, or Sir Jimmy, we have fixed it.
Apologies.