Liverpool takeover?

YNWAYNWA · Apr 21, 2006

any truth to the hype?

Nick and Steven, Fox Football Friday (USA) teased:

Alright, don't forget World Soccer Daily Monday through Friday on Sirius Satellite Radio channel 125 1pm to 3pm..and on Monday tune in and we are going to break a story on this side of the Atlantic as to who the consortium that is going to take over Liverpool--in total--it's coming and you're going to be amazed at who it is.
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YNWAYNWA · Apr 21, 2006

Re: LFC takeover?

just found this:

Norwegian consortium prepares bid for Liverpool

Dominic Fifield
Saturday April 22, 2006

Guardian

A consortium of Norwegian businessmen, who include in their number an environmental activist who once chained himself to the gates of Sellafield, are preparing a financial package which they hope will allow them to buy into Liverpool and end the European champions' lengthy search for major new investment.
The group have been put together by Oystein Stray Spetalen, a financial investor worth an estimated £150m, with their principal backer the hotel magnate Petter Stordalen. The 43-year-old Stordalen is something of a celebrity in Norway, having championed the country's tourist industry and tied himself to a footbridge over a drainage pipe at Sellafield in 2002 after claiming radioactive emissions from the nuclear power plant were polluting the Norwegian coast. "It is my policy not to comment on any potential investments," Spetalen told the Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang.

Stordalen owns 90% of the Choice Hotels Scandinavia group, Norway's largest hotel chain, and is believed to be attracted by the potential of building a hotel alongside Liverpool's proposed new stadium on Stanley Park, together with a possible casino. The Norwegian pair have already sought advice on English football and Liverpool's future potential from the former Swindon, Sheffield United, Middlesbrough and Barnsley striker Jan Aage Fjortoft on the scheme. Fjortoft is currently manager at Lillestrom and Spetalen hopes he would play some role at Liverpool should they succeed in buying significantly into the club.

Liverpool opted against commenting last night but are aware of the group's interest, though privately they are sceptical whether the Norwegians value the club at the £200m the current chairman David Moores believes it to be worth. The Norwegians' clout could be increased significantly should the building magnate and long-standing Liverpool suitor Steve Morgan become involved in their bid, as has been mentioned in Norway. . .
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http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1758931,00.html

YNWAYNWA · Apr 22, 2006

another report on this latest news:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,27-2146661,00.html

. . . For Benítez, the prospect of outside investment is likely to appeal. In advance of today’s meeting with the champions-elect, the Liverpool manager hinted at his frustration at being unable to compete with Chelsea in the transfer market, somewhat uncharitably overlooking Mourinho’s achievements and saying that the real “Special One” at Stamford Bridge is Abramovich.

“It’s very simple,” Benítez said when he was asked to appraise Chelsea’s success under the Portuguese. “They have spent more money than any other club on players. Abramovich has done a fantastic job with this team. They have a lot of good players, so they must be at the top of the table and in finals with those players. It’s normal.”

Benítez was asked whether he recognised that, in spite of the help from Abramovich, Mourinho has done a good job since arriving from FC Porto in June 2004. “Yes, but for me the chairman or the owner is the key,” he said. “(John) Terry, (Frank) Lampard, Mourinho are all important, but they couldn’t have anything like they do without Abramovich. He started the revolution, no?” . . .
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liverbird · Apr 22, 2006

Re: LFC takeover?

YNWAYNWA said:

just found this:

http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,1758931,00.html[/QUOTE

Two things -- I absolutely hate Dominic Fifield. He consistently denigrates LFC with inaccurate or misinformed opinion. I have on numerous occasions written to his paper to point out his bias and ignorance.

Second, this reminds me about the story about the Scouser filmmaker in Hollywood that was going to buy the team. I think it is about self-promotion rather than serious financial business. The key is the mention of Morgan -- perhaps this is simply a stalking horse for his ambitions again.

Oh and a third thing -- why does this come out the day of an FA cup semi-final? In the London press and not the Echo or Post?
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