Robert Kraft

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New millionaire in Liverpool?

Aggers Liverpool may be on track to get even an American billionaire with owners.

Tv2sport.dk learn that the New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has started with due diligence in Liverpool.

This will enable New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft end up buying a smaller part of the club's shares from the current owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr.

Speculation about Liverpool ownership has flourished since Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr refinanced the club via the Royal Bank of Scotland in February.

And as the two Americans had to postpone construction of the club's ambitious stadium plans because of problems with the economic conditions in the world market.

Now learn tv2sport.dk however, that Tom Hicks has asked his friend Robert Kraft, who also owns the NFL team New England Patriots, to look through the accounts in the hope that he will bring more capital to Anfield.

Robert Kraft is believed to have been offered a small part of the club's shareholding as a compromise, especially since Tom Hicks does not want to sell to the Arabs from DIC, which has long been interested in acquiring the English big club.


He has financial power, however, he's a friend of Hicks.

BUT ... Apparently he's renowned for keeping a stable boardroom and keeping everyone happy;

Nothing wrong with Kraft, got a great track record.

Kraft would be awesome news for our club.

One of the best owners in US Sports and understands the need for good relations from boardroom to playing field. His players and coaches love him in New England...at least thats what it seems like.

Perhaps it's speculation, perhaps it's not. This could mean that Rafa get's the long-awaited new contract though.

I don't trust anyone anymore 

I wouldn't be too keen on getting an American owner at this moment in time. America is being hit hard in the current credit crunch. What other investments does he have? How has he made his cash to date?

How has he made his cash to date?

The cheese triangle market.

What other investments does he have? How has he made his cash to date?

He owns New England Revolution of the MLS and as the article says the NFL's New England Pats, real estate and other stuff.

Doesn't really matter how they are treated on this side of the Atlantic because you look at Gillette who is considered by supporters of the hockey team he owns to be great as compared to here where everyone hates him.

Grand i just wanted to make sure he wasn't making his money with the American banks. I'm not sold on the idea. I think the majority of Kopites would want DIC. I agree with Smiggs its hard to trust them anymore!

He was interested well before the yanks got a hold on our club wasn't he? Didn't we give him the elbow then?

I believe we did, but going by that we also gave DIC the elbow.

I believe we did, but going by that we also gave DIC the elbow.

Absolutely. But that was a bit different because DIC had (and I say this with total sarcasm) 'competition'.

Mmm, that's true.

In my honest opinion though, if this Kraft guy does arrive here, I'll have nothing against him - as long as he changes G&H's way of thinking.

Can't dislike someone if they've done nothing wrong. As long as there's change, I'll be willing to take a risk and say I'll welcome him to our club.

Can't dislike someone if they've done nothing wrong.

What if he stinks of cheese?

Just chuck a bucket of Stella over him.

As long as Liverpool have £350 million of debt on their books and no new stadium I won't be happy no matter who was in charge.

Take the debt off the club - put it back on yourselves as promised - start building the stadium.

What if he stinks of cheese?

with Hicks, Gillett & Kraft its likely to stink of Knob cheese

Take the debt off the club - put it back on yourselves as promised - start building the stadium.

or maybe sell up and f*** off back to where you came from?

Just chuck a bucket of Stella over him.

Or make a pizza out of him and deliver it to JD - free of charge.

Take the debt off the club - put it back on yourselves as promised - start building the stadium.

That is never going to happen with Hicks and Gillett though is it. Especially if Hicks is getting one of his friends to join the party. The debt would stay on the club and Kraft would probably pay some interest off so they can keep a hold on the club with the deluded idea that they will make the money in the distant future.

I think I've got every right to be pessimistic about this news after what's happened so far. Like Smiggs said, I too don't really trust anyone anymore.

If I tried to get over the pessimism for now, then I could say maybe this could be the stepping stone for Kraft to get full control and take the debt off the club - have the best interests for the club at heart. But is any business man going to do that in one clean swoop who's not a multi billionare? And if he was as good as some people on other forums say, then why did we not take him up on his offer last time around?

Maybe it could be he wasn't offering enough for the shareholders or he wasn't a good blagger. I don't know the full facts about that. Anything that prolongs the stay of the two people who have lied through their back teeth to us, makes me concerned though.

with Hicks, Gillett & Kraft its likely to stink of Knob cheese

I'd say that's more than likely, yes.

I say get robbie fowler to buy us! . really though, why isnt there any interest from english buyers.?! all this problem with foreign investors, they are just wanting the money.

Sell to this kraft character, and I guarantee in a few months we'll be chanting the same "Yanks out!" as before, just a different yank in place of another.

Any proposal that leaves Hicks & Gillet in place is a great big no no from me!
Why would somebody introduce significant funds to a club for a small share holding?
Sounds like a load more bollocks.
F**k off MR Kraft your not welcome
We've been here before, all as we need now is another "Snoggy Doggy" statement

Personally i don't like Kraft its not even real cheese. And another yank ?

all we want is a stable owner who backs the management with the money the yanks havent delivered so its time for a new owner give him a chance we dont want to become like newcastle

Doesn't really matter how they are treated on this side of the Atlantic because you look at Gillette who is considered by supporters of the hockey team he owns to be great as compared to here where everyone hates him.

There is a difference between Gillette and Kraft though. Gillette doesnt own a football team so he doesnt know half as much as what Kraft knows when it comes to football. We should of accepted Kraft's or D.I.C's offer before Gillett and Hicks even came into the equasion.

i'm sure kraft expressed a big interest in trying to but arsenal, at a similar time to hicks and gillett's arrival at anfield. sure i remember a report on the news from that time

Is this saying DIC are out of contention to buy LFC?

Is this saying DIC are out of contention to buy LFC?

Not at all.

We already have 2 tw*ts .do we need another one joining them (can't say anything about the guy ,,YET,)  But if he is friend to Hicks ,,well its bad news for me to be honest ..if this is true ?
  Its up to the bank of scotland now  to decide,  is it ?

http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2009/06/26/robert-kraft-i-wanted-to-buy-liverpool-latest-liverpool-fc-news-92534-23985401/

AMERICAN billionaire Robert Kraft has admitted he would buy Liverpool Football Club “in a minute” – but only if a salary cap was placed on the English Premier League.

The US businessman also claimed that he came “very close” to buying Liverpool in 2005, but was ultimately put off by the absence of a cap on players’ wages.

Kraft, whose family own the NFL’s New England Patriots and Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution, also had concerns about the need for a new stadium but said that would not have stopped him from going ahead with the deal.

Kraft is on the USA’s top 300 rich list. He owns mills, manufactures and distributes paper and packages products in 80 countries.

He says he is fond of Liverpool, noting that the Revolution’s coach,

Steve Nicol, used to play there and praised the club’s fans for their loyalty and passion.

He added, however, that they were not the only club he would consider investing in if a cap were in place.

“I wanted to take over Liverpool,” said Kraft. “I met with [the then chairman] David Moores, who is a fine gentleman, and we came very close to buying it, very close.

“But in the end my instinct was – without a salary cap, or a stadium... I wasn’t sure how we’d get a stadium built quickly and efficiently

“But the more important issue was the salary cap.

“If the salary cap was there, we would have done it.”

Kraft has experience of building sporting arenas, having overseen construction of the 68,000-seat Gillette Stadium in New England in 2000, but hinted that he was less comfortable with the prospect of trying to make a team profitable in an environment where wages and transfer fees continue to rise unchecked in an economic downturn.

Attending Wimbledon this week for the 35th consecutive year, Kraft also said: “If the salary cap came here, I would buy a team in a minute because we think we know how to run a sports franchise.

“We have stuff sent to us all the time, but I think deep down, until there was some kind of salary cap structure I couldn’t go ahead with it… unless there was a great business steal.”

What do you all make of this ?

Would he be better than Gillet & Hicks ?

Also in this thread as well


http://www.lfcreds.com/reds/index.php?topic=2900.640

Also in this thread as well


http://www.lfcreds.com/reds/index.php?topic=2900.640

Sorry i did not realise it allready had a thread

No don't worry.  The other post in the Hicks & Gillett thread has been deleted, this is the main thread for this topic's discussion.

But I can't be arsed with this arsehole saying he wanted to buy us other than 'interested' in buying the club.  Get lost you tosser.

No don't worry.  The other post in the Hicks & Gillett thread has been deleted, this is the main thread for this topic's discussion.

But I can't be arsed with this arsehole saying he wanted to buy us other than 'interested' in buying the club.  Get lost you tosser.

Thats what i though to be honest we do not need another American Owner who seems to be more concerned about Money than the two Clowns we have Owning it now.

Talking about salary caps and saying he was not sure sure how we would get a stadium built quickly and efficiently when he is in the top 300 Rich List in America says to me he's more concerned about his personal fortune than he would be about our club.

Thats what i though to be honest we do not need another American Owner who seems to be more concerned about Money than the two Clowns we have Owning it now.

Talking about salary caps and saying he was not sure sure how we would get a stadium built quickly and efficiently when he is in the top 300 Rich List in America says to me he's more concerned about his personal fortune than he would be about our club.

Apart from one or two points it's similar to what he said about a year back in an interview.

Keen on a salary cap isnt he? 8 times it says 'salary cap' in that article. Wow. Atleast he is financially conscious - or just another money sucking c*nt.

I dont know anymore. He says the right things; stadium and finances, but we've heard it before.

Me confused.

Keen on a salary cap isnt he? 8 times it says 'salary cap' in that article. Wow. Atleast he is financially conscious - or just another money sucking c*nt.

I dont know anymore. He says the right things; stadium and finances, but we've heard it before.

Me confused.

Nothing to be confused about, really. Kraft seems to be a similar style businessman to Gillett and Hicks, with the exception that he has a brain.

I'm not saying he'd be a good owner to have, he just seems to know that he doesn't have the cash to cut it in the Premiership. He could have built the stadium and brought in some players, but he isn't sure he'd have enough money with the ever-spiralling transfer fees and wages in modern football.

Just a shame that Gillett and Hicks hadn't thought along these lines before buying us.

It's slightly tangential, but a salary cap wouldn't harm us at all. We can attract big players without needing to offer extortionate wages.

But on topic, we need to make sure our new owners are the RIGHT owners. The ones who want the best for the club, and not just themselves.

It's slightly tangential, but a salary cap wouldn't harm us at all. We can attract big players without needing to offer extortionate wages.

It's true, the clubs who'd need to worry about that are the ones without history, who rely on flashing big wage packets under a player's nose to attract them, such as the Chavs and, more recently, Manchester City.

With a salary cap in place there'd be little or no interest in top players signing for these clubs (although Chelsea are quite firmly rooted in the CL now, so will probably be sticking around). Ourselves, on the other hand, with our fine history and pedigree, would remain one of the first choice clubs in the world.

But on topic, we need to make sure our new owners are the RIGHT owners. The ones who want the best for the club, and not just themselves.

Absolutely. Unfortunately it would be the current owners who would make this choice, and we can be sure that the day they do sell, it will be for the best financial package for themselves, and not for the interest of the club.

We just have to hope that the best offer comes from an intelligent party who wants to take the club forward, and not some greedy yobs like Gillett and Hicks.

Like you crouchinho, I'm confused about this guy, Kraft. Its has been long ago that he wanted to buy the club now, but raising the matter again, may just show he wants to get the attention away from Hicks & Gillett that he would be the right owner - if not for the cap.

I do agree with him on the cap, these players' wages are a hundred times of what we earn - its crazy because once they step onto the field, bonuses come into their pockets. Signing-on fees etc, even the player puts on the shirt for his debut he already has a few million quid in his pocket.

Top 300 in USA richlist is nothing IMO. Most of the rich people come from the Middle East etc and I'll only want the top 20 USA rich people to own us. 300? I don't think you'll have a good couple of billions to run the club.

I am not so sure about selling to the Middle East the Same as I was never to keen On selling to the Yanks I know this may sound old fashioned and the club needs to move on to compete but Liverpool to me had allways seemed like it was a well run Family club with Heritage & Prestige and a Focal Part of the community that people could identify with in the days when we had the traditional "Boot Room" set up and the people associated with it Ronnie Moran Sammy Lee etc etc.

Now dare I say it but I would hate for us to become a soulless club throwing money around left right and center paying astronomical transfer fee's & wages as we become some Rich mans play thing employing mercenaries who come here for the love of the green and not the love of the club or the love of the liverbird and the adulation of the fans.  It is all well and good whilst its successful but what happens when he tires of his toy and decides to move on to his next toy, will the club have the financial stability to survive on its own or would we become a selling club to get these players of our wage bill ? would we go in to meltdown dropping down divisions in the mould of Leeds ?

Its a future I fear for LFC unless these two clowns have finally seen the light and realized the errors in their ways when they first  took over the club with false promises of the money they were going to invest. I can only hope the signing of Torres and also the money they invested last season on the Ill fated Robbie Keane and the signings we will make this season Glen Jonson included is a significant step in the right direction by Gillet & Hicks to appease the fans. Hopefully they will build a new stadium that will give us the financial viability that we need to survive with out being some rich mans play toy. If this transpires to be the case I will gladly forgive and forget with Hicks and Gillet knowing in the back of my mind that once the right offer comes along for them to make a mega profit from LFC they will sell sell sell but atleast they will have given the club some stability and the revenue coming in to compete at the top level for years to come.

Nothing to be confused about, really. Kraft seems to be a similar style businessman to Gillett and Hicks, with the exception that he has a brain.

I'm not saying he'd be a good owner to have, he just seems to know that he doesn't have the cash to cut it in the Premiership. He could have built the stadium and brought in some players, but he isn't sure he'd have enough money with the ever-spiralling transfer fees and wages in modern football.

Just a shame that Gillett and Hicks hadn't thought along these lines before buying us.

Thing i'm confused about though is how to judge someone's character when they declare interest in us. He says the right things but H & G did to an extent also.

He seems to be more careful in his choice of words which everyone knows now that if your going to be interested in buying us, you have to say the right things (stadium and money).

Thing i'm confused about though is how to judge someone's character when they declare interest in us. He says the right things but H & G did to an extent also.

He seems to be more careful in his choice of words which everyone knows now that if your going to be interested in buying us, you have to say the right things (stadium and money).

Ah, I see where you were coming from.

Sadly, the only thing to do is hold onto your balls and pray.

Ah, I see where you were coming from.

Sadly, the only thing to do is hold onto your balls and pray.

I'm holding onto my balls and praying but nothing much seems to be happening other than I'm getting aroused

Ah, I see where you were coming from.

Sadly, the only thing to do is hold onto your balls and pray.

Goes to show how much in sh*t we are

Got ourselves in a real mess here. Unfortunately for redLFCblood, he's in 2 kinds of mess.

It seems obvious to me that people want Liverpool only to make money nothing else. It is a sad reflection on our greed driven society that above all else for these rich people money and profit comes first.With Hicks and Gillette it may well end up better the Devil you know. I couldn't bare it if someone else took control and then completely ignored all their promises once more.

The way I see things is that LFC as it stands now is a hopeless investment for anyone wanting to make money out of it. A buyer would need around 1 billion pounds to cover buying out the Yanks, clearing debt, building a stadium and, most important, subsidising the squad until the revenue from a bigger stadium comes on stream

Kraft is only being honest and realistic about the situation.

The bad news about this is that we are not being inundated with potential buyers, especially as the
"bloodsuckers" want to make a huge profit even though all they've done is damaged the club since they arrived.

The good news is, in my opinion, that the only kind of buyer who will take LFC on is one for whom profits and recouping his investment is not important. In other words, a true Red.

Snag is, is there anyone out there who fits the bill?

Horrible though it is to contemplate, Twit and tw*t may just be the lesser of several evils right now. At least they seem to actually be running the club somewhat sensibly of late.

Just saying...no need to go off on a rant at me...I don't like them either!

The way I see things is that LFC as it stands now is a hopeless investment for anyone wanting to make money out of it.

A buyer would need around 1 billion pounds to cover buying out the Yanks, clearing debt, building a stadium and, most important, subsidising the squad until the revenue from a bigger stadium comes on

all they've done is damaged the club since they arrived.

"bloodsuckers"

Sorry, but someone who can do all that to our club doesn't sound like the lesser evil to me. They are the worst thing that has ever happened to Liverpool, financially speaking. They are a walking, talking disaster zone.

Not a rant, just saying that you've proven in your post already that they are the worst thing!

evil

Don't forget it.

The way I see things is that LFC as it stands now is a hopeless investment for anyone wanting to make money out of it. A buyer would need around 1 billion pounds to cover buying out the Yanks, clearing debt, building a stadium and, most important, subsidising the squad until the revenue from a bigger stadium comes on stream

Kraft is only being honest and realistic about the situation.


The bad news about this is that we are not being inundated with potential buyers, especially as the
"bloodsuckers" want to make a huge profit even though all they've done is damaged the club since they arrived.

The good news is, in my opinion, that the only kind of buyer who will take LFC on is one for whom profits and recouping his investment is not important. In other words, a true Red.

Snag is, is there anyone out there who fits the bill?

Horrible though it is to contemplate, Twit and T**t may just be the lesser of several evils right now. At least they seem to actually be running the club somewhat sensibly of late.

Just saying...no need to go off on a rant at me...I don't like them either!

Steve Morgan would have fitted that bill back in the day, but I doubt he would have had the financial clout to take us further on his own alltho he was a buisness man with a buisness brain and had grown his own empire so he could have possibly grown ours but thats all by teh by now and ship sailed long ago

Steve Morgan would have fitted that bill back in the day, but I doubt he would have had the financial clout to take us further on his own alltho he was a buisness man with a buisness brain and had grown his own empire so he could have possibly grown ours but thats all by teh by now and ship sailed long ago

What let him down though, was saying a groundshare would be a good move. I wouldn't even share oxygen with the blueshite!

What let him down though, was saying a groundshare would be a good move. I wouldn't even share oxygen with the blueshite!

I think in that statement itself about the whole ground share issue showed he didn't really have the financial clout to go it alone and was looking at alternatives where he could still contribute in terms of funds for signings etc by sharing half the cost of the stadium. But I agree with you I was opposed to Sharing.

Wow, Kraft is by far the best owner in the NFL. He provides the funds and lets his head coach run the team flawlessly. If theirs any American owner that knows the proper way of doing things, it's Kraft, and I don't even like his team. As for the salary cap, I can understand where he's coming from. No one works the cap like the front office in New England, players take millions less than they would anywhere else to play for them. In Europe theirs no telling how many players your manager may want, and how much you will need to fork over, In American sports you know next years salary cap, this year.

Just thought I'd post my opinion. This guy would be head and shoulders above Hicks and Gillette as far as class, respect and morality go. It's a shame he won't buy the club imo.

Not to mention he helped build them this...

Sorry, but someone who can do all that to our club doesn't sound like the lesser evil to me. They are the worst thing that has ever happened to Liverpool, financially speaking. They are a walking, talking disaster zone.

Not a rant, just saying that you've proven in your post already that they are the worst thing!

Don't forget it.

just a quick response to that....we don't know if they are the "worst" do we? we only know they are bad.

my point is this....if we could go back in time and never sell to the Yanks that would be ideal of course....but given that we are where we are I just think that people who crave other owners are just not being very realistic about what may happen.

as i said before, unless a true LFC fan with a billion to invest comes along I can't see anyone else being much better than what we have, simply because of the numbers.

In all honesty for all the false promises and all the false dawns under Gillet & Hicks we are not actually in a bad position on the field.. off the field issues are another thing .... At the moment after the season we have just had maybe new owners would be a bad idea.. It may unsettle Rafa (he may think new owners have another man in mind for the job).. It may unsettle players (thinking better players will be brought in to replace them in the squad).. So for these reasons I'm quite content to let the two clowns get on with it as long as they stay out of first team affairs.