With news of George Gillett Jr and Tom Hicks trying to patch up their differences, we thought we should ask an expert to read between the lines. Oliver Kay (The Times) talks to James Major.
Can this be true? We thought their relationship was "unworkable"...
And I still suspect it is in the long term. But for now, with Hicks blocking Gillett's sale to DIC and with some kind of direction desperately needed in the Anfield boardroom, it seems that they have decided to stop being quite so childish and to try to get along.
This rumour had been doing the rounds for a couple of weeks and was actually denied by people who you would imagine would be keen to portray a united front. Even in the past week or so, there have been strong indications that Gillett will not sell his stake to Hicks under any circumstances due to the hostility between the two of them.
But Hicks has already proved he is willing to resurrect his relationship with Rafa Benitez, so it seems that there is a pragmatic side to him and to Gillett.
Where does this latest news fit into the bigger picture? Are the DIC investors still circling?
DIC's offer is still there, but they are now resigned to playing the "long game". It seemed at one stage that a takeover deal could be done by mid-March, but Hicks did not allow Gillett to sell to DIC. I don't think DIC, having persisted so long, are of a mind to give up on this. They still feel that the Hicks-Gillett partnership is flimsy in the extreme and that it is only a matter of time before the Americans are forced to sell.
Gillett speaks of backing Benitez in the transfer market? What does this mean in reality? We thought they were skint.
They are not necessarily skint, but money is sufficiently tight for them to have been unable to raise their bid for Gareth Barry until they have the £4 million in the bank from John Arne Riise's transfer to AS Roma.
Similiarly the sales of Peter Crouch (probably to Portsmouth) and Xabi Alonso (probably to Juventus) appear to be vital if Benitez is to have room to manoeuvre in the transfer market this summer.
I think by the time the summer is over we will have seen at least a dozen players leave Liverpool and I would be surprised if Liverpool's net outlay this summer is more than about £10 million. It doesn't sound like a recipe for a title challenge, does it?
One interesting aspect of this is that, in the past, Benitez would have been up in arms about this, complaining about how little money he has to work with and how difficult it will be to compete. This summer we have not heard a peep out of him and he appears content to wheel and deal rather than to risk losing his job.
If you had a fiver to bet, how would you say this saga will end?
I would be staggered if this partnership survives in its current form. There are rumours that one or other of them could bring in a new investor, but surely that would complicate things even more. One thing is certain: Liverpool need money, both for squad reinforcement and to build their new stadium, if they are to remain competitive.
That is what Gillett and Hicks were brought in to provide and so far there is no indication whatsoever that they have anything like the resources to do that. Moreover, they have brought embarrassment on the club, squabbling not only with each other but with Benitez and Rick Parry, the chief executive. This autumn they are going to be under serious pressure to provide the funding for the new stadium. If they can't do that, they simply have to sell.
So, in answer to your question, I see this saga rumbling on and on. DIC still expect to get their foot in the door at some point, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to predict how or when they are going to be able to force a breakthrough.
.
Can this be true? We thought their relationship was "unworkable"...
And I still suspect it is in the long term. But for now, with Hicks blocking Gillett's sale to DIC and with some kind of direction desperately needed in the Anfield boardroom, it seems that they have decided to stop being quite so childish and to try to get along.
This rumour had been doing the rounds for a couple of weeks and was actually denied by people who you would imagine would be keen to portray a united front. Even in the past week or so, there have been strong indications that Gillett will not sell his stake to Hicks under any circumstances due to the hostility between the two of them.
But Hicks has already proved he is willing to resurrect his relationship with Rafa Benitez, so it seems that there is a pragmatic side to him and to Gillett.
Where does this latest news fit into the bigger picture? Are the DIC investors still circling?
DIC's offer is still there, but they are now resigned to playing the "long game". It seemed at one stage that a takeover deal could be done by mid-March, but Hicks did not allow Gillett to sell to DIC. I don't think DIC, having persisted so long, are of a mind to give up on this. They still feel that the Hicks-Gillett partnership is flimsy in the extreme and that it is only a matter of time before the Americans are forced to sell.
Gillett speaks of backing Benitez in the transfer market? What does this mean in reality? We thought they were skint.
They are not necessarily skint, but money is sufficiently tight for them to have been unable to raise their bid for Gareth Barry until they have the £4 million in the bank from John Arne Riise's transfer to AS Roma.
Similiarly the sales of Peter Crouch (probably to Portsmouth) and Xabi Alonso (probably to Juventus) appear to be vital if Benitez is to have room to manoeuvre in the transfer market this summer.
I think by the time the summer is over we will have seen at least a dozen players leave Liverpool and I would be surprised if Liverpool's net outlay this summer is more than about £10 million. It doesn't sound like a recipe for a title challenge, does it?
One interesting aspect of this is that, in the past, Benitez would have been up in arms about this, complaining about how little money he has to work with and how difficult it will be to compete. This summer we have not heard a peep out of him and he appears content to wheel and deal rather than to risk losing his job.
If you had a fiver to bet, how would you say this saga will end?
I would be staggered if this partnership survives in its current form. There are rumours that one or other of them could bring in a new investor, but surely that would complicate things even more. One thing is certain: Liverpool need money, both for squad reinforcement and to build their new stadium, if they are to remain competitive.
That is what Gillett and Hicks were brought in to provide and so far there is no indication whatsoever that they have anything like the resources to do that. Moreover, they have brought embarrassment on the club, squabbling not only with each other but with Benitez and Rick Parry, the chief executive. This autumn they are going to be under serious pressure to provide the funding for the new stadium. If they can't do that, they simply have to sell.
So, in answer to your question, I see this saga rumbling on and on. DIC still expect to get their foot in the door at some point, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to predict how or when they are going to be able to force a breakthrough.
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