Is the Arab prince the answer?

[Brian78]

With the story coming out this week that Arab Prince, Faisal Bin Abdulaah al Saud, reportedly on the verge of buying George Gillette's 50% stake in the club I'm left to wonder am I the only one who isn't jumping for joy about it? I can fully understand everyones desire to see the back of the Americans, even 50%of them for the moment, but I cant get overly happy about another foreign investor coming in. Ill explain why

When the Americans bought the club everyone was delighted. Anyone who says they weren't is a liar. We thought at last we have people with the money to compete for the best players and build a new stadium. Star spangled banners waved in the kop. Good times were here! Except they weren't. No need for me to go into it we all know what happened next.

Perhaps its because of this that I'm dubious about the Arab prince. But I'm left wondering firstly, why are we so overjoyed by the rumour when our record with foreign investors is terrible. Also his advisers have said he's a no go on the deal unless the clubs debt becomes more manageable. Didn't Gillette just tell us this week were in the healthiest position of all the major clubs in the world? Either he was lying or the Prince doesn't know a good deal when he sees one!!

And if we are so badly in debt why ids the prince sniffing around in the first place? Does he see a buy now sell in 2 years for mega profit situation? And if so what does he plan in between?    As I said I'm cautious about any deals and that's probably down to our 2 current owners, there lies and there letdowns!!

[johnstop]

If I thought it would help I would kiss a frog if hit had money to invest.

[Shay]

Firstly, I was never over the moon about G&H coming in.  I had only just got round to believing Moores' story about DIC being the right owners for us, when the spin came out that G&H were perfect for us after all.

I didn't do the homework on the Yanks (unfortunately, neither did Moores or Parry) but I still wondered how a couple of blokes from a country where footy is about 27th choice, behind lacrosse, could be right for us.  What could they possibly know about owning a footy team?

I admit, I wanted to believe that they would build the stadium, something Hicks had a history of doing with great success, and that we could build a team around the revenue that would bring.  Obviously, my lack of homework meant that I failed to see these two tossers didn't have two ha'pennies to rub together.

Even then, in all the crap that has gone on, I have still questioned whether or not DIC (or whoever else) would be the right move.  As much as I want G&H out of our club, I don't want to leap out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Who is to say that the next owner would have any more respect for us fans?  Or any more understanding of the traditions of 'the Liverpool way'?   The capital or backing to build that f**king stadium?  The knowledge of football to stick by and back a manager instead of sacking them every two minutes ( you listening Roman?)

So NO, brian, you're not the only one who has reservations about anyone new coming in.  You know what they say - "once bitten, twice shy."

All I can say, and hope to God that I'm right, is that anyone else cannot possibly as bad for LFC as the current owners?  Can they?

[Iano92]

Is the Arab prince the answer?

Well he is hardly worse than 2 fat retarded americans....

[Gow]

Good thread Brian mate.

Who knows if it would be a good thing? Only hindsight will tell us, but surely we can't be any worse off. Maybe he'll want to put money in, but if he's already complaining about the debt before he's even part of the club then that can't be good.

[Iano92]

Good thread Brian mate.

Who knows if it would be a good thing? Only hindsight will tell us, but surely we can't be any worse off. Maybe he'll want to put money in, but if he's already complaining about the debt before he's even part of the club then that can't be good.

I'd like to say that the reason he is worried about the debt is because he has to pay it off if he buys us so who can blame him I would be worried too if I was buying Liverpool from those two pricks..

[Gow]

Know what you mean mate, but with pockets as deep as his it'd be like moving into a new house and finding out the previous owners hadn't paid their paper bill.

[toradel]

I want the prince to take over... Arabs are so rich that splash cash like water, if he buys the club am sure he's gonna give rafa what ever money he wants to invest on the team... He's the prince of saudi so he must be very very rich... I just wish he buys the whole club... With what we already have in our team an da saudi's investment our team is just gonna get better and better...

[robbyr]

never mind an arab prince,     we need aladin with his f***in magic lamp.

[corballyred]

Anything is an improvement from them two clowns.

[red trooper]

I may be wrong ( quite often am ) but the arabs with their vast wealth have tried everything to enjoy themselves and spend their cash like we use petrol ,the serious type of wealth these guys have to compete with each other is mind boggling ..think Liverpool deserves some arab petty cash personally and kicks the yanks out ...things couldn't get any worse

[eurored]

Didn't Gillette just tell us this week were in the healthiest position of all the major clubs in the world?

Either he was lying or the Prince doesn't know a good deal when he sees one!!

Ever heard Jimmy Nails Aint No Doubt?
Change Gender.









Hes Lying.

[Iano92]

Know what you mean mate, but with pockets as deep as his it'd be like moving into a new house and finding out the previous owners hadn't paid their paper bill.

Well taking all things into consideration if he was looking at buying Liverpool we would cost at least 750 Million for total control... Then we want to build a stadium and make big signings.... So if he really wants to make Liverpool successful he will have to have about 2 Billion ready to splash:/

[RedRoy]

Steady on lads, what I read into this is the Prince is doing what any good businessman would do.You buy a business but you expect the incumbent to clear his debts. Remember the bulk of the debt is down to Kop Holdings Ltd., a company jointly owned by the 2 gobsh*tes.If Gillette wants to sell his share(which he is now entitled to do) then from the money he receives, he has by law to clear his portion of the Kop Holdings Ltd., debt to the banks.So if this happens our debt would principally be halved.Then if the prince decided to push through the building of a new stadium, let's say £300 million, then Hicks would first of all have to repay his 50% of the current debt (approx £225 million), but would also have to raise personnaly £150 miilion for the stadium.So does anybody see him ventuaring £375 million of his own money to stay with a 50% stake in LFC,whose total value with new stadium is valued at £1 billion.The man's a carpet bagger so no f*cking way, He'll bail out sooner for a less risky £1-200 million profit for doing f*ck all.Bring on the Arabs.

[Bahrosa-LFC]

Nothing can be worse than it is now. We need just to look at the blue side of Manchester and the sort of cash they're whipping around, to have an idea of what we will be in for if the Arabs come on board.

Personally, I would love to have any new owners, and the Prince of Saudi Arabia won't do any harm. I see it as a win-win for both us and the Saudi Prince: We'll have a fortune to spend, and he'll definitely make a profit in due season and grow a reputation in England aswell. 

[LazyFingers]

Better having a dude with three wives than two fat wankers that probably have none!

[Fan 86]

Anything has to be better than those two pr*cks from over the pond,and unlike G+H I think they will respect our traditions.Arabs are a secretive bunch as it is,you couldnt imagine them publicly slating Rafa or claiming outragous things like weve spent just as much as the chavs or scum.
But the biggest advantage of all would be the new stadium,which we all know is a massive priority if we are to keep up with the other teams round us.
If eventually this guy gets full control of the club, the stadium would surelly be built quikly.

[LiverpoolJay]

Like many of you I am also skeptical about the prince, especially with all his indecisions to buy us over the debts, makes it seem more of a short term financial investment maybe?

On the other hand though, he might be one of the smart ones in this world and actually looking to take over a club and run it in a sustainable mannor, running it on profits made through the club itself rather than 100's of millions worth of outside loans.

However the situation we find our self in now isnt the greatest one...(to say the least!) so hopefully getting at least one of the yanks out there might finally be a bit of boardroom harmony

[stuey]

Could be that the prince in stating his reservations about the debt issue is cranking up the bargaining side of the deal.

[eurored]

If he is true to his commitments and passion then he is likely to speak with the SofS and Share Liverpool.
If they are brought onside he could be in with a chance of acceptance.



I still cant get used to see him touching the This Is Anfield sign or walking the hallowed turf with "Gretel".



Shankly would turn in his .................

[macca8]

Firstly, I would welcome anyone who can run Liverpool as Liverpool are; a club with honour and history. But unless there is no groundbreaking for the new stadium, I guess I'll reserve my expectations.

[Aidan Denny]

I'll believe it when I see it...............

[bigvYNWA]

This question can not be answered now, even if and hopefully when we see them sign on some form of a dotted line I will still be reserving judgement for a year.
I remember sitting in a bar back home in Australia, me local pub, after a hard day on the farm. Me dad, me and a couple locals (miss that place, real close knit country pub) and the story about H&G taking over Liverpool was on the sports news on the TV. The pictures of them holding up the scarf, all that sh*te. Mate of ours Paul taps me on the shoulder, knowing im a Liverpool fan and says, "Dave, what do ya reckon about that?" My response? "F**kin' fantastic mate, we have needed someone to come in for years now with some cash, these guys will be fantastic for us"
How f**king stupid does that sound now, feel ashamed for ever thinking it : So that is why I will not begin to comment on any new owners until I see production from them.

[Ross]

Looks like it is the answer, see the new thread!

[stuey]

This question can not be answered now, even if and hopefully when we see them sign on some form of a dotted line I will still be reserving judgement for a year.
I remember sitting in a bar back home in Australia, me local pub, after a hard day on the farm. Me dad, me and a couple locals (miss that place, real close knit country pub) and the story about H&G taking over Liverpool was on the sports news on the TV. The pictures of them holding up the scarf, all that sh*te. Mate of ours Paul taps me on the shoulder, knowing im a Liverpool fan and says, "Dave, what do ya reckon about that?" My response? "F**kin' fantastic mate, we have needed someone to come in for years now with some cash, these guys will be fantastic for us"
How f**king stupid does that sound now, feel ashamed for ever thinking it : So that is why I will not begin to comment on any new owners until I see production from them.

Same as mate word for word except for the Aussie pub, but I suppose the vast majority were under the same illusion. Had off completely by those lying carpet baggers.

[johnstop]

If they did invest we would be in good financial hands as I am sure they would not want City to do better than us.

[bri1970]

Anyone taking over would be better than what we have at the club now but we would have to look more into it this time as somebody else said before "once bitten,twice as shy"

[stuey]

What puzzles me is the fact that after Gillett is paid off and fu**ed off if what we are told is true the buyer will have to throw his hand in with Hicks, probably the lesser of the two conmen but if it is Prince Faisal surely this would not be a suitable arrangement. His spokesman has stated that the Prince would eventually llike to own 100% of the club so exactly where that leaves the deal is anyones guess.

[eurored]

Is he the answer?

Bit more progress reported in SkySports.com today October 15th 09.

[Billy1]

What puzzles me is the fact that after Gillett is paid off and fu**ed off if what we are told is true the buyer will have to throw his hand in with Hicks, probably the lesser of the two conmen but if it is Prince Faisal surely this would not be a suitable arrangement. His spokesman has stated that the Prince would eventually llike to own 100% of the club so exactly where that leaves the deal is anyones guess.

I wonder if his idea is to secure Gillettes  50% and then to put Hicks in a position where Hicks has no option but to sell his 50%.As you say it does not look like a suitable arrangement to have to work with Hicks.