In a town that produced The Beatles,


Liverpool FC remains a headliner,
 

despite rather unpopular co-owner


Tom Hicks

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Liverpool FC beloved, Hicks or not


 
 

By DAN GALVIS / The Dallas Morning News
01:34 AM CST on Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Last year, Liverpool Football Club, a perennial power, was near the top of the standings, but the owners were making the headlines.

So, have fans in this northwest English city changed their opinion of Tom Hicks, who owns the team with fellow American George Gillett?

No chance.

"I don't think he knew what he was getting into," said Bill Hignett, a supporter of Liverpool FC for the last 60 years.

Many fans just sneer hearing Hicks' name. An employee at the club's store could only shake his head. "I could take him or leave him," he said seconds later.

While there is that indifference, the voice on forums from the numerous Web sites devoted to the club is venomous. When rumors circulated about Hicks flying into the city, one blogger was hoping to "service" Hicks' jet engine.

Hicks did not respond to e-mails requesting a comment.

Barry George, a fan for 40 years, has certainly seen plenty. He talks proudly of his favorite club and the dismay he has felt since Hicks and Gillett purchased Liverpool FC in March 2007.

However, fans are not exclusive in voicing their displeasure with the owners.

Jamie Carragher, who came up through the club's academy system, has voiced his disdain for Hicks in his autobiography, Carra, released in September.

Captain Steven Gerrard, also a lifelong Liverpool player, has not been happy with the ownership, but Ian Cotton, the team's media spokesman, said the club tries to keep players from answering questions about the ownership. Carragher's book came out without the team knowing of the comments.

In the book, Carragher said he believed Hicks and Gillett could have helped the team monetarily, especially with acquisition of transfers, but that optimism dissipated. Putting heat on popular coach Rafael Benitez didn't help their cause. Finances and Hicks' contact with Jürgen Klinsmann, who could have been Benitez's replacement, were major factors.

Throw in bickering between Hicks and Gillett and the threat of selling to a Dubai group, and Liverpool's feats on the pitch were put on the backburner.

Fans cried out for the sale to the Dubai group.

That was not going to happen. By September, the sale had fallen through.

The fans attempted to pool enough money to take over the team. That didn't come through.

Hicks and Gillett reconciled early this season as the team started well. A new contract was being worked out for Benitez. The prospects of a new, 73,000-seat stadium loomed.

All seemed rosy, but the fans didn't forget.

"It's like a religion," longtime fan Maureen Blackwell said, beaming.

And its main hymn is "You'll Never Walk Alone" by Gerry and the Pacemakers, who made the Broadway show tune a No. 1 hit in 1963. Liverpool FC fans have made it their anthem ever since, unified as one voice before each home match as they hold scarves and banners over their heads and turning Anfield, the stadium that has stood since 1884, into a sea of red, the team's main color and nickname.

But this is not the only time the fans show their love. They chant and sing throughout, serenading their captain with "Steve Gerrard Gerrard" sung to "Que Sera Sera."

Since being formed in 1892, Liverpool has captured 18 English league titles, five European Cup titles and three European Super Cup titles. In that time, it has gained fans worldwide and is the clear favorite in this city, judging by the red seen throughout the city. Not even the Beatles can overshadow the Reds.

In a souvenir store at Albert Dock, which houses the big tourist attraction The Beatles Story, people first run into a stand of red flags and photos of Anfield.

The Liverpool FC brand stands out. The club's assistant press officer, Stephen Astall, said marketing has not needed to change. Rich history sells itself, and Liverpool FC remains a headliner.

1.5 million: Registered users of Liverpoolfc.tv, the club's official Web site

45 million: High end average hits on the Web site per month

150-plus: Number of countries the Web site receives questions from

155,000: Visitors to the museum at Anfield this year

1: Match out of 15 at Anfield not sold out so far this season

45,362: Capacity of Anfield, about one-tenth the Liverpool population

http://www.premierleague.com/page/Home/0,,12306,00.html

Liverpool FC beloved, Hicks or not

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Posted on January 31st, 2008 by Jim Boardman

The full details of the Share Liverpool FC proposals that - if brought to fruition - would see LFC bought out by fans are due to be revealed this evening.

On their website they claim that this is far from being just a pipe dream: "It's no pipe dream; it's do-able. Liverpool Football Club has millions of fans across the world. Most of them will have been worrying about what has been happening to our Club lately. And they'll be realising that life as a Liverpool fan could get much more expensive."

"We propose a model of ownership similar to that at Barcelona. This club is owned by their 'members'. Over 100,000 fans have bought single 'member' shares, which entitle them to elect a Board who will run the club until the next election. At Barcelona it is once every four years. That way, no one can ever buy the club. Its structure makes its sale to the next sporting conglomerate that fancies a premiership football club a legal impossibility. The shares can never be sold; the club can never be sold. Let's stop Liverpool Football Club becoming a trinket any rich man might like to wear around his neck. This club is close to the hearts of millions of people all over the world."

A great and inspirational statement, but a big question is how much it will cost each potential member. It's as predicted: "We estimate that a sum of £5,000 each will be enough. We need 100,000 members. 100,000 x £5,000 = £500 million. That should buy the club and go a long way towards building a new stadium."

They also talk of how despite the current owners steering clear of major hikes to ticket prices it's only a matter of time before the debt they've put the club into has to be paid somehow, and increases in ticket prices is one way. They also predict a controversial Manchester United scheme for cup tickets could be forced upon Reds fans: "We've seen what's happened already to season ticket holders at Manchester United. You have to commit in advance to buy all home Cup games - without even knowing how many games that will be! Say ten in total on average. That's an extra £400 - £500 to add to the price of your season ticket at Old Trafford."

Another big question is how they see their chances of getting hold of 100,000 people who have a spare £5000 to spend on buying into the club. They're banking on the way that somehow, ever since the earliest days of Liverpool's European adventures, the fans have managed to find the means to go and watch faraway matches. They feel that Reds will do something similar to get a chunk of the club: "We took nearly 50,000 fans to Istanbul - Athens too. In reality, it cost most of us between £1,000 and £2,000 to make the trip; more if we took our partners and kids along. Liverpool fans have always turned out when the Club needed them. They find the money somehow, even at short notice. And remember, there are literally millions of us round the world who really care about LFC."

Five grand is more than many fans can afford, every season more and more season ticket holders are finding it's becoming a struggle to find that cash, but they still desperately want to be a part of this move to get the club back into the hands of people who love it. We've received comments to this site from supporters who wondered if they could team up with some mates and buy a share between them. According to Share LFC, that will be fine: "We don't want to see any Liverpool fan excluded. We will seek to provide opportunities for groups of fans to purchase one 'member share' (carrying one vote) between them, providing they can nominate one individual to represent them."

They are also planning to give the rush for a piece of the action a bit of a boost - there will be a deadline for applications, but also they plan to give perks to the first 20,000 respondents: "We will propose giving the first 20,000 people to respond special status and possibly enhanced advantages for ticket purchase. Those who commit first deserve some reward for their enthusiasm."

According to the group, these schemes can work: "Barcelona and Real Madrid are owned by their fans. So are German clubs, apart from Bayer Leverkusen. In fact, teams owned by their fans like this have won the European Cup 6 times since it became the Champions League in 1992. Even in USA, the NFL Green Bay Packers are run by a not-for-profit company; they've won the Superbowl three times despite having by far the smallest population of any NFL team."

The club's debt, directly and indirectly, now stands at £350m and that's before they take out the other loan they need to cover the bulk of the building costs for the new stadium, at least another £250m at current estimates. There was never any real issue over the idea of borrowing the costs of building the stadium, the big issue with the current owners' borrowings are that it currently covers little more than what should have remained their personal borrowings for their purchase of the club. It looks like the new group would use the £500m to pay off the current owners, and then would borrow to top up the funds needed for the new stadium: "Look at Arsenal. They've no sugar-daddy. The club costed up its plans, secured loans and convinced people to lend to them at a fixed-rate. The Banks trust the club's finances will be well-run and that fans will continue to watch the club. If we could show how much fans of this club care, and how they're prepared to back their faith with hard cash, then everything changes. We don't need a sugar daddy - we are the sugar daddy - because most of the money comes from us in the end anyway."

The first issue to come to light under the new owners, although they tried hard to disguise the facts, was that they weren't putting in the extra investment for new players that had been a material part of the acceptance of their bid. This fans takeover will at least reduce the debt on the club, but will it allow any extra funding for players during the wait for the new stadium? They say it will depend on the decisions of those elected to run the club: "If we have a well run, debt free Club to start with, there will be money to buy players. Also the elected Board may wish to raise money. At Barca, very rich individuals stand for election with promises of further investment. But it doesn't mean they 'own' any part of Club."

There's always the possibility that the group will fail to attract that figure 100,000 fans with a spare £5,000, but if that happens they will consider the option - with approval of those who did sign up - of buying a partial stake in the club: "Let's say we only get £100m - the equivalent of 20,000 fans signing up. At that point we would ask the 20,000 'members' what they want to do. Some of us might want - as a group - to buy a significant portion of the club's shares. Certainly, at that point, any individual member who wanted the money returned would be entitled to it."

There's also some clarification about whether the £5000 share will rise in value over time. It won't. The plan is not quite the same as selling shares in a plc, for example, and there will be restrictions on selling the shares: "There will be no ordinary 'trading' in individual shares, no profit can be made from selling them, otherwise the Club would be permanently up for sale just like Manchester United was. However, if a member can find someone who does not already own a member share, then a transfer at the original price may be arranged through the elected Board."

Money won't need to be paid out straight away: "Nobody will be asked to part with a penny until a detailed Constitution is presented in which all necessary details are made plain." And when payments do begin, they've plans on how to keep track of how much has been raised: "We will have a partner Bank where the monies will be kept until we reach the target. We will ask the two Bishops of Liverpool to act as verifiers for us - they'll see the bank accounts, have access to all the books and be able to speak to the bank to certify that it's all there. We will also ask the Liverpool City Council Treasurer to act as a scrutineer."

Fans will get to vote on various elements that go towards the running of the club: "Members will elect the Board of Directors for Liverpool FC, for a term to be decided by them. After an Election, just like the Government, the Board will have executive control of the Club, but they may want an elected 'Fans' Council' to advise them. The Board will know that - in a few years time - they will be judged on their performance by the owners - the members." The members won't be voting for who manages the club however.

They say this is a first: "Though there have been many formations of 'Fan Supporters' Trusts' at professional clubs in the past decade, and three Football League Clubs are run by a majority shareholder Fans' Supporters' Trusts, Liverpool would be the pioneers in completing a 'members' buy-out. What we propose would probably start a revolution in Club ownership structures in the UK, but then Liverpool fans have often been at the vanguard of changing the culture of football."

To keep costs down, they're also pleading for any volunteers who are in a position to offer free professional advice: "We want this to be a genuine fans' initiative and we know something about the costs of professional advice. Are you in a senior position in banking, accountancy, corporate finance etc? Please contact us if you think you could provide voluntary assistance to this project."

The site also gives a brief background to those who are behind this idea: "Share Liverpool FC is a group of Liverpool fans, advised by some of the foremost experts in supporter and co-operative ownership in football.

"It includes, leading the initiative, Rogan Taylor, Kop season ticket holder and LFC fan for over forty years; founder member and Chair of the Football Supporters' Association, launched in Liverpool after the Heysel Stadium Disaster in 1985. Rogan is currently the Director of the Football Industry Group at the University of Liverpool.

"Advising the group, Supporters Direct; the organisation that assists in the formation of supporters' trusts, and assists them in gaining equity and democratic representation at their clubs. Kevin Jaquis, of the law firm, Cobbetts, the top UK firm for co-operative and mutual law which has played a leading role in the development of mutuals and co-operatives in housing, health and education. Kevin was part of the group which developed the Supporters Trust concept and wrote the model constitution which is now used by over 100 trusts in England, Wales and Scotland."

Andy Burnham, an Everton supporter and now Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport is keen to see this idea work: "The Barcelona model," he said, "to me, is how a football club should be run. They are one of the most pre-eminent names in world football, yet the club is owned by its supporters on a one-member, one-vote basis and they control it. That strengthens it because it's never subject to the whim of one person; it's a collective endeavour. English football should see that as a big strength. I'd love to see if we could grow the Barcelona model here."

For the responses from the Liverpool Football Club  Members and Supporters go to

http://www.anfieldroad.com/news/200801312815/share-liverpool-fc-details-of-how-takeover-attempt-will-work.html/

Archived Articles on Liverpool FC

The Liverpool Stadium Shambles - 14/09/2008
George Gillett made a rare visit to Liverpool yesterday to see his club beat Manchester United, but while fans celebrated their victory, large numbers of them protested against the American owners...

Liverpool Stadium Problems - 02/09/2008
Which of the top four clubs are most vulnerable to the new 'Middle Eastlands' Manchester City's stated ambition to become a top four club? The cost of their new stadium has limited spending at Arsenal, but Liverpool looks more vulnerable under its American owners. Tony Hicks and George Gillett have been forced to delay plans for a new stadium because they do not have the funds. Eighteen months after Gillett had declared that work on a Stanley Park stadium would start within 60 days, Liverpool issued a statement saying the delay had been caused by 'global market conditions'. It is likely to be another year before construction can start. Liverpool have accepted that they need to move to a bigger stadium if they are to challenge the financial muscle of Manchester United and Arsenal and say they will revisit the plans to ensure that if and when the stadium opens it will have a capacity of 73,000, rather than the 60,000 for which it currently has planning permission. The difficulties that both Liverpool and Everton are encountering with new stadium plans has revived talk of a shared stadium. For fans, however, the identity of the club is strongly bound up with the stadium. What might be financially rational in another business is not possible in football, at least in England.

Liverpool Bosses Make Up - 22/06/2008
George Gillett Jr. has revealed that his relationship with his co-owner at Liverpool, Tim Hicks, has improved in recent weeks...

New Doubts Over 'Pool Stadium - 07/06/2008
The head of the North Western Regional Development Agency has cast doubts on the ability of Liverpool's co-owners to raise funds for a new stadium...

Hicks Insists Stadium Plan On Track - 18/05/2008
Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks has insisted that the club's plans for a new stadium remained on track and were unconnected to his decision to delay a development project in the US because of the credit crunch...

It All Goes Off At Liverpool - Again - 17/04/2008
Some newspapers have published complicated diagrams in the last week showing who is out with whom - or still in with whom - at Liverpool Football Club. However, fans probably don't need to consult them for another flare up of the bad feeling between co-owner Tom Hicks and chief executive Rick Parry...

Hicks Calls On Liverpool CEO To Resign - 12/04/2008
Tom Hicks has asked Rick Parry to resign as chief executive of Liverpool as the feud between the American co-owners intensifies...

Liverpool Co-owner Admits Split - 29/03/2008
Liverpool co-owner George Gillett has admitted what has been widely known for some time: relations with his business partner Tom Hicks are now 'unworkable'...

'Pool Fans See DIC As Saviour - 15/03/2008
ShareLiverpool are maintaining their dream of owning the club for the fans, but in the meantime they have been having discussions with prospective bidders Dubai International Capital...

Battle For Control Of Liverpool Goes On (And On) - 06/03/2008
DIC, Hicks, Gillett, and now the organisers of ShareLiverpoolFC, are all bidding to take full control at Anfield...

Liverpool Sale Rumours Persist - 26/02/2008
Rumours that Liverpool Football Club may soon have new owners in the form of Dubai International Capital (DIC) continue to circulate despite a robust denial by co-owner...

Can Fan Buy Out Plan Work? - 03/02/2008
Can the plan of the Share Liverpool FC Group to buy the club from its American owners work? It has already been welcomed by culture, media and sports secretary Andy Burnham who called the plan, headed up by football academic Rogan Taylor, 'a fascinating development...'

Liverpool Secures Refinancing Package - 27/01/2008
The US owners of Liverpool have completed its long-awaited refinancing, securing a £350m loan from Royal Bank of Scotland and Wachovia. The package will need to be refinanced again in 18 months' time...

Battle To Control Liverpool Is On - 20/01/2008
Liverpool could change hands for the second time in a year as their American owners run into difficulties in refinancing £350m of debt incurred in taking over and running the club...

Liverpool Could Be Sold Again - 14/01/2008
Liverpool could change hands for the second time in a year as their American owners run into difficulties in refinancing £350m of debt incurred in taking over and running the club...

Liverpool Sale Denied - 26/12/2007
Liverpool owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have told friends that they have no 'interest whatsoever' in selling the club. They made their stance plain to friends and business associates after it was reported at the weekend that Dubai International Capital were poised to take over because the Americans were allegedly having problems re-financing the debt taken out to buy Liverpool. It is understood that Hicks and Gillett are poised to re-finance the £220m loan with a new £350m loan with the Royal Bank of Scotland to include £60m for work on Stanley Park and £25m to cover the cost of last summer's signings. Stadium plans are apparently proceeding according to a revised schedule that would see the new ground open in time for the 2011/12 season.

Liverpool Stadium Plans Hit Financial Snags - 18/12/2007
Futuristic designs for new Stanley Park stadium submitted by a Texan company in July are to be replaced by what chief executive Rick Parry described as a 'slightly downgraded' version...

Liverpool Tensions Raise Broader Issues - 02/12/2007
The tensions at Liverpool between manager Rafael Benitez, the American owners and the fans are important for the future of a major club, but they also raise broader issues...

Liverpool Seek Success And A Profit - 15/07/2007
Liverpool are hoping to challenge for the Premiership title in the coming season, but there has not been quite the mass injection of funds for players that was hinted at when the new owners took over...

Liverpool's New Owners Want Bigger Stadium - 17/03/2007
Now that they have completed their purchase of Liverpool, American tycoons George Gillet Jr and Tom Hicks have urged the club to expand the new stadium at Stanley Park beyond the planned 60,000 capacity...

American Duo Go 50:50 On Liverpool - 04/02/2007
Tom Hicks, co-founder of the US investment firm Hicks Muse, Tate and Furst is dipping into his personal fortune to provide half the equity for George Gillett's purchase of Liverpool FC...

Angry Sheikh Pulls Out If Liverpool Bid - 31/01/2007
Liverpool's plans for the funding of a new stadium are in turmoil after an angry Sheikh Mohammed pulled Dubai International Capital out of their takeover bid for the club...

Second Bid For Liverpool - 28/01/2007
Liverpool has received a second foreign takeover bid for the club, this time from George Gillett, owner of the Montreal Canadians ice hockey club...

Liverpool May Choose Gulf State Owners - 04/12/2006
The seemingly endless saga of Liverpool's takeover looks like it is coming to an end with the club becoming the first Premiership club to be owned by the investment vehicle of a Gulf state...

Liverpool Considers Two Bids - 26/11/2006
It was recently suggested on this page that Liverpool might be the next Premiership club to be sold to foreign owners and the club is currently in discussions with US sports entrepreneur George Gillett and Dubai Capital International...

Liverpool Court Date With Reebok - 08/10/2006
Liverpool have a trial date next April for their dispute with sportswear manufacturers Reebok International...

Liverpool Given Deadline On New Stadium - 23/09/2006
Liverpool have been told to provide evidence of how they will fund their proposed new £180m stadium at Stanley Park or risk losing European funding...

Norwegians Interested In Liverpool - 23/04/2006
Liverpool's attempts to gain outside investment to underwrite its new stadium at Stanley Park have been a long saga, but now the FA Cup finalists have attracted promising interest from Norwegian investors...

New Liverpool Bid Speculation - 30/03/2006
Prodded by the Takeover Panel, Liverpool have confirmed that they are in talks that could lead to a bid for the club...

Liverpool 'A Great Brand' says Kraft - 14/11/2005
American billionaire Robert Kraft has told Radio 5 'Liverpool is a great brand and it's something our family respects a lot...

Liverpool Could Lose Stadium Funding - 13/11/2005
Liverpool could lose a major source of funding for their new stadium at Stanley Park if, in three months' time, they failed to secure the estimated £120 million...

Liverpool Get Champions League Boost - 29/05/2005
The chances of Liverpool defending their Champions League title have improved after the intervention of Uefa president Lennart Johansson and other senior officials...

Problems Over Liverpool Shirt Deal - 02/05/2005
Liverpool may not be able to produce replica shirts in time for the start of next season if it does not secure a new sponsorship deal soon to replace that with Carlsberg...

Liverpool Stadium Worries - 31/03/2005
Spiralling costs are raising questions about the viability of Liverpool's new stadium project at Stanley Park...

Liverpool In Danger of Becoming 'Relic' Club - 25/01/2005
Liverpool are in danger of becoming a footballing relic according to former captain and television pundit Alan Hansen...

Liverpool To Go It Alone - 18/01/2005
Liverpool hope that work on a new £120m stadium at Stanley Park could start within months after they formally rejected a Government-backed proposal for a groundshare with Everton...

Morgan Pulls Out Of Liverpool Deal - 22/12/2004
Entrepreneur Steve Morgan has pulled out of a £70m investment offer to Liverpool, letting it be known that he has 'lost patience' with the club's board...

Carlsberg To End Liverpool Sponsorship - 22/12/2004
Carlsberg is expected to end its twelve year old deal with Liverpool at the end of the season. The brewer considers that it is not getting value for money from its £6m a year shirt sponsorship deal...

It All Goes Off At Liverpool - 05/12/2004
Outside of Manchester, most genuine fans have considerable respect for Liverpool Football Club. But the club has been going through a troubled period off the pitch which, whatever anyone says to the contrary, can have implications for what happens on the pitch....

New Liverpool Offer - 10/10/2004
Property tycoon Steve Morgan has indicated that he is prepared to invest £100m in Liverpool Football Club, a substantial advance on the £70m he offered three months ago...

New Bid For Liverpool? - 26/09/2004
A third bid for Liverpool has emerged from two US-based entertainment executives with Hollywood links. Mike Jeffries and Stuart Ford have Merseyside roots and state that they have started talks with the club...

Thai Music Group Will Now Lead Liverpool Bid - 20/06/2004
The controversial bid by Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to bid for a stake in Liverpool 'on behalf of the Thai people' is effectively over...

Thai Bid For Liverpool Runs Into Trouble - 06/06/2004
The Thai bid to acquire a stake in Liverpool has run into trouble after increased opposition within Thailand...

Thais Step Up Interest in Liverpool FC - 15/05/2004
Foreign takeovers are the flavour of the month as the globalisation of sport gathers pace and Bangkok's Thai Rath newspaper has reported that Thaksin Shinawatra, the country's billionaire prime minister is about to sign a deal to take a Bt4.6bn (£64m) 30 per cent stake in Liverpool...

First Shot Fired in Battle For Control of Liverpool - 26/03/2004
With Liverpool knocked out of the UEFA Cup, the first shot has been fired in the battle for control of the faltering Merseyside club...

Shared Stadium For Pool? - 11/10/2003
With the promise of public funds being made available for up to a third of the cost, the North-West Development Agency has re-opened the vexed question of a shared stadium for Liverpool and Everton...

http://www.footballeconomy.com/stats2/eng_liverpool.htm