Owners slash Liverpool asking price

• Poignant

  31 Jan 10, 21:27

  OWNERS SLASH LIVERPOOL ASKING PRICE

  Americans make major shift in position

  

  OWNERS: Gillett and Hicks in the crowd

   

  LIVERPOOL'S American owners have slashed their asking price for the club in half to flush out new buyers.

  Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr will now accept a £100million equity sale for as much 50 per cent of the shares at Anfield.

  That is a massive drop from the £400m for a total buy-out they were earlier pursuing.

  The Americans had wanted to raise funds by selling a 25 per cent stake for £100m but club sources have acknowledged that was a non-starter as interested parties want a controlling interest.

  A new buyer would still have to commit another £300m longer- term to build the club a new 60,000-seater stadium at Stanley Park.

  But the drastic shift of the Americans' position has created a new sense of optimism that a tumultuous era in the club's history is finally coming to an end.

  In another departure from the talks held with Dubai International Capital in 2008, any money pumped into the club through a share issue would reduce the club's debt rather than go into the owners' pockets.

  Hicks had earlier maintained he was looking for a 'minority investor' but the landscape has changed.

  Both Hicks and Gillett are more willing to dilute their holdings to around 25 per cent each to allow a senior partner to end their ill-fated partnership.

  Liverpool are hoping there is finally some light at the end of the tunnel, although serious questions remain both on and off the pitch.

  The future of manager Rafa Benitez is less secure than ever following his frank admission he's 'proud' to be wanted by Juventus.

• dragg

  1 Feb 10, 11:12

  i believe benitez is more suited to spanish and italian soccer.

  he will do better in those countries.

   

• As romanista2001

  1 Feb 10, 18:22

  hope some Abu Dhabi rag-head goons will buy Liverpool................and lose money big time.................these rag-heads have shit for brains............

   

  Rafa Benitez is unproven as a coach.............and well-proven as a clown................he'll struggle even in S'pore's ASS-league....................