Fans angry over Dubai takeover collapse
LIVERPOOL: The head of Liverpool's main supporters group on Wednesday voiced dismay over the collapse of talks on a takeover of the club by Dubai International Capital.
DIC pulled out of talks after the Liverpool board asked for more time to examine a rival and higher offer from American tycoon George Gillett, who will learn within days whether he has succeeded in acquiring one of the biggest brands in world football.
"There is a process underway with Mr Gillett, and a decision can be expected in the next few days," a Liverpool spokesman said.
The unexpected twist in the long-running saga of Liverpool's attempts to secure new investment came as a surprise to Les Lawson, spokesman for the Liverpool Supporters' Club.
"We had come to terms with the Dubai bid and what it entailed, and the fans accepted that they were fans of the club of long standing and understood the history and heritage of Liverpool," Lawson said.
"Then Gillett comes along and muddies the water. We are worried now about the future and the fact that the Dubai bid had gone on so long and now we are in another period of uncertainty.
"This has been going on for years. Surely it should have been clear by now what the Dubai people wanted.
"The Dubai group were big fans, but we do not know too much about this guy, who it seems has tried to buy other clubs.
"The Dubai deal had been sold to us as being one from people who understood the traditions and heritage of the club. Rick Parry (chief executive) said that was one of the key issues, that the Dubai people did appreciate our history.
"Now we are going to have to wait and see what Gillett wants and does in the future."
DIC had been anticipating a formal acceptance of their takeover plans on Wednesday afternoon. But that was thrown into doubt when the Liverpool board stalled on a decision on Tuesday evening and the investment arm of the Gulf Emirate pre-empted an increasingly likely rejection by taking their offer of the table and insisting that they would not be increasing it.
Sameer Al Ansari, the executive chairman and chief executive of DIC, said the company deeply regretted that talks had broken down after all the work they had done to convince everyone at Liverpool that they had the club's long-term interests at heart.
AFP
(China Daily 02/02/2007 page24)
