Football Update: Liverpool and it’s new and old Ownership saga
There is an aura of excitement and joy mixed with anticipation at the Merseyside and the reason for that is Liverpool’s change of ownership. For a long time the occupants of Anfield were looking forward to this day and many considered that it won’t come soon but the owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett along with Chairman Martin Broughton have surprised everyone.
However, the deal is yet to sign and Broughton has informed that apart from the Chinese businessman Kenny Huang and his billionaire backings, the club is looking at a couple more offers too, as the signing of papers is yet to happen.
This situation is not new to the fans of Kop, as they have seen their owners’ Hicks and Gillett been constantly lambasted because of their poor decision making and their lack capability to cope with pressure since they bought the club in February 2007.
The previous owner of Liverpool David Moore has expressed his disappointment at the owners he had selected. Earlier in the summers he criticized them and admitted that he shouldn’t that have sold the club to them, as they did not have a stable financial situation. However, in 2007 when he introduced them to the world as the new owners, he had this to say:
“Gillett and Hicks produced a very substantial offer document containing all the key assurances regarding debt, the stadium, investment in the squad and respect for Liverpool F.C’s unique culture, traditions and legacy. It was impressive stuff. Over 1700 shareholders voted and the result was 100 percent in favour of accepting Gillett & Hicks’s offer”
However, later the former owner reckoned that the decision turned out to be one of his worst and he could have done better, “an element of the process I accept we could have handled better”. He also admitted that he could have accomplished a better job but the whole process happened in a rash back then.
With just about 4 weeks, left in the transfer period to close it seems that the Liverpool club will manage a close deal with just about enough time to sign in some new players. Sources have revealed that the Chinese sports promoter Huang for QSL is not the only man bidding for the club in the market. Early in the summers, Liverpool’s worth was estimated around 700 million pounds but the price has fluctuated a lot since then and their current value can’t be given a fair approximate.
Kenny Huang chairman of a Hong Kong company QSL Sports that majorly deals in investments, is in the process of negotiating the final price for the Liverpool deal.
The deal is quite similar to the ones that the current American owners got from Moores. The group is demanding a large number of funds along with a stadium. Not only that but there is a deadline on the date before the contract is supposed to happen.
Reports suggest Roy Hosgson wants the deal to happen before 2 weeks, so that he gets enough time to revamp his squad. Moores has commented that Liverpool should not make the mistake again that he made as the club is already ailing. He added Liverpool should in fact prepare for the come back and buckle up as the next season promised to be toughest season yet.
Liverpool finished 7th last season below Aston Villa. There was a major change in the Top 4 last season when Chelsea came in 1st; Manchester United came in 2nd, Arsenal 3rd, Tottenham Hotspurs 4th and Manchester City 5th.
Foreign investors have had mixed results in acquiring English clubs for instance, Chelsea’s owner would have no problem in spending for his successful club Chelsea but Sulaiman Al-Fahim got rid of 90 percent of his Portsmouth’s share, just after two months of buying them. Shiekh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan of Manchester City too is heavily investing on his club and it is predicted that in the coming season big things will be witnessed by Manchester City.
Huang who is also the promoter of sports in China owns National Basketball and Baseball Leagues in China. He is backed up by billionaires all over the globe and if this deal is sealed, experts believe that Liverpool will at last see a time of rejuvenation.
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