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On a day in which they were overtaken in the Premiership table by rivals Everton, Liverpool fans must be hoping that the uncertainty surrounding the future ownership of the club will be resolved sooner rather than later. However, it may be a few weeks before it is decided whether the existing American owners remain in control or Dubai Investment Capital (DIC) are successful in taking over at the second time of asking. DIC, the investment arm of the Dubai Government, is on the verge of tabling a new £350m bid for the club. At one time it was thought that they were favouring a 'divide and rule' strategy to take advantage of reported disagreements between the American owners, George Gillett and Tom Hicks. However, rather than acquiring Hicks' 50 per cent stake, they now favour a total buyout. Even so, they are not prepared to pay over the odds for the club. Their offer would include taking on the debts incurred by the American duo when they took over in March 2007.
One consideration that may concentrate the minds of the Americans is that they are close to finalising a £350m loan that would allow them to repay the money they borrowed for their £218.9 takeover and to sign players and which would enable them to start work on a re-scaled plan for a new stadium at Stanley Park. Bankers would prefer them to sell before they take on the loan, but they could still do so afterwards, although they are not going to get the £500m some reports suggest they had hoped for. In any event with Monday a public holiday in the USA it could be a few days before their intentions become clear. There have been persistent reports of tensions between the duo with Gillett said to have considered buying out Hicks who has not proved to be the silent partner Gillett had hoped for. In particular, Hicks admitted talking to Jurgen Klinsmann about succeeding manager Rafael Benitez before Klinsmann took charge at Bayern Munich, an admission that has not gone down well with supporters. Their long-term relationship appears to be untenable and that of itself is a sufficient motivation to sell.
Liverpool's passionate supporters have been far from happy with the situation for some time with Hicks in particular being unpopular for his disagreements with the manager who remains popular with most fans. Liverpool fans are planning an orchestrated protest against the Americans at tomorrow night's game against Aston Villa. They are particularly concerned at how much of the £350m loan and its crippling interest payments would be shifted on to the club's books. At the FA Cup match against Luton banners were hoisted calling on DIC to launch a bid. Ten years ago the idea of Liverpool fans calling on a company from the Middle East to take the club over would have seemed unbelievable, but DIC and its deep pockets may offer supporters the best chance of getting the Premiership title they crave.
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