DIC are still in the wings

[the dude abides]

I guess when rumors of financial woes prevail around Anfield, talk will soon turn to DIC.

Well DIC cropped up in the Independent today; and in a blog.


Financial doubts over Barry bid
The Independent

Fears have been expressed today over the future of Liverpool's bid to sign Gareth Barry as the club's ownership battle threatens to flare up again.

The fact the club's American owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, have yet to produce the promised short-term loan to allow boss Rafael Benitez to complete the £18m transfer has promoted speculation the deal could soon be dead.

Benitez has waited all week for money to be put in place to allow him to end the Barry saga before he sells any more players to fund the deal.

But the longer the delay, the more likely it becomes that Benitez could be forced to abandon the long-drawn-out deal.

The failure to produce funds which Benitez expected a week ago has prompted long-term suitors Dubai International Capital to let it be known they are still waiting in the wings with their own proposals for the club.

A source close to DIC said: "Just because it is has been a quiet summer does not mean DIC have lost interest. They are happy that things have now become low key, and they are awaiting developments."

And there is also speculation a former prospective buyer of the club, and several rich American-based Liverpool fans, have let it be known they are prepared to help the club out of their cash problems.

Observers believe plans for the new stadium have as yet not included confirmed building contracts or the lease being agreed with the local council.

The club's owners are also going to have to find cash soon to fund the stadium as well as re-finance the current loans.

A Liverpool Council spokesman explained the current situation over the lease for Stanley Park, claiming it should be signed in a month.

He said: "It is normal legal procedure for companies to wait three months after the granting of planning permission before signing the lease.

"This is because under planning laws, the public have a right of appeal for three months after the planning permission is given.

"We expect the lease on Stanley Park to be signed in a matter of weeks."

But the delay over the Barry deal is beginning to embarrass Liverpool. As soon as it was suggested the American owners were looking to borrow money to fund the deal, there were City sources - admittedly close to the DIC bid - who insisted borrowing would be difficult in the current climate.

[the dude abides]

DIC BACK IN THE HUNT....PLEASE BUY THE CLUB!

An inside source heavily involved in previous negotiations between Dubai International Capital and the club's owners has informed 'our informer' that Tom Hicks and George Gillett have again agreed to sit down to discuss the future of the club.

It is claimed that a formal meeting is to be held in New York within the next 11 days and that Rick Parry does not attend at the request of co-owner Tom Hicks, after it was suggested that the Reds chief executive should be present by DIC officials.

"DIC made moves again on Thursday. They will be back around the table before 19th August."

http://insidelfc.blogspot.com/2008/08/dic-back-in-huntplease-buy-club.html

[Stephen]

Nice one just when the season is about to start the American owners start this s*** again. What are they at?? Do they have any clue how to run this club?

And before people blame DIC for this - all the yanks had to do was say no to a meeting - end of. DIC unfortunately have no control over these events.

I kept quiet all summer but this is ridiculous.
No money no stadium no thanks - Yanks out

[the dude abides]

yes, goodness only knows if that story of a planned meeting has any truth to it.

But the Barry delay can only be down to lack of available money I imagine.

The players we have sold off this summer have largely financed the Keane deal - so it would appear that our owners are seemingly fit to put frig all forward (beyond what we received in the player sales) for additional purchases..

[SuperSkrtel]

Hopefully DIC do end up buying the yanks out they cant be any worse than the pair o smiling jackasses Parry should get the boot aswell if it was'nt for him DIC would be the owners for over a year now and the club would be a lot more stable

[PhilLFC]

yes, goodness only knows if that story of a planned meeting has any truth to it.

But the Barry delay can only be down to lack of available money I imagine.

The players we have sold off this summer have largely financed the Keane deal - so it would appear that our owners are seemingly fit to put frig all forward (beyond what we received in the player sales) for additional purchases..

Dude, whats been said ovet there, have you heard any other rumours, not including this latest news...

[the dude abides]

Dude, whats been said ovet there, have you heard any other rumours, not including this latest news...

not much happening across the Irish Sea here, Phil.

Very quiet (especially since the 12th).

I hope, like SS says, that the coming months see the yanks on their bikes.  We can't face another season of off-the-pitch turmoil.

DIC may not be perfect, but they have an abundance of money and at this moment in time we need to get the stadium built.

And wouldn't it be absolutely friggin wonderful if we were bossing the top of the table again, come every April and May time.

[skippy]

Look at hick's record in owning sports clubs, we are following a pattern that has been repeated more than once. Luckily we have managed a few sales which has enabled Rafa to buy one or two players but thats it. The yanks have not and will not spend any of their own money. I believe they planned on buying Liverpool FC building a stadium and then selling us on but the credit crunch has messed that up so now they will either have to lose face and sell us or be stubborn and not sell which means we are plunged further and further ino debt with no stadium and no funds to buy players.

To quote hicks "This business has to do with fan affinity and brand devotion. It doesn’t necessarily have to do with winning.”

[the dude abides]

To quote hicks "This business has to do with fan affinity and brand devotion. It doesn’t necessarily have to do with winning.”

I think you're right, skippy.

I suspect their plan is to maximise their return, with a new stadium underway/built.  And that spending money on expensive players is not part of that plan.

Good quote from Hicks above.  In America he is well used to fan affinity/brand devotion.  Unfortunately for him, he doesn't understand how fans in England work.  Unlike yankee fans, we don't take it up the ass and say 'thank you sir'.....no, we protest and make things extremely uncomfortable/embarrassing. 

Hicks has a helluva lot to learn about Liverpool FC and football in general.

[Tes]

Liverpool Football Club - aka Weetabix according to another of Hicks' quotes.

Re: "a former prospective buyer of the club" from the Independant report, I wonder if that's Robert Kraft they're hinting at.

[the dude abides]

might be Kraft.

Jeepers, wouldn't it be wonderful to even marginally lessen Hick's percentage ownership of Liverpool FC.  Even if he owned 25 or 30 percent of the club, it would be great to see him being slowly pushed out.

[martin]

I'm afraid I've lost all hope of DIC taking over the club. I don't think I can allow my hopes up again until the moment that I see Al-ansari shaking hands with Benitez on the front page of skysports.com! I hate protraction (apart from with a female on a friday night) and that's all we seem to bloody get with these owners, DIC......................... Barry......................... Stadium.......................    I reckon my lottery numbers will come in before the we see the Amercians carry something out 'swiftly'.

[Tes]

might be Kraft.

Jeepers, wouldn't it be wonderful to even marginally lessen Hick's percentage ownership of Liverpool FC.  Even if he owned 25 or 30 percent of the club, it would be great to see him being slowly pushed out.

The other one could be John Miskelly. It was rumoured months ago that Hicks and Gillett had been in talks with him. Then again it was only a rumour.

[the dude abides]

Chris Bascombe, has always been the best placed insider at Anfield IMHO......and thus I am delighted to read today in his column that:

"The Dubai International Capital interest in Liverpool is all but dead, but that of Sheikh Mohammed is not.

He’s now instructed alternative Arab investment companies from his vast portfolio to make capturing a controlling interest at Anfield a priority.

It’s hoped a £240m bid for a 60 per cent stake may be enough to tempt Gillett and Hicks to sell-up — with both receiving £120m and a share of future profits.

Such a deal is still some way off, however, and for now Liverpool must head into a new campaign facing the same eternal questions."

[skippy]

That report sounds promising. We can only hope its true.