Liverpool FC Forum

by **big al** » Tue May 25, 2004 10:59 pm

I have had this sneaking feeling coming up on me this last 24 hours, I mean the departure of Houllier seems to be detracting from the bizarre goings on in the board room.

Houllier out campaign had moved down the agenda because the league was over and the Thaksin-Morgan saga was worrying us even more than Houlliers failures.

Personally I think that the decision to dispense with Houlleir was taken long ago but Moores and Parry dared not to act lest it affect the chance of a Euopean place.

Owen has said today that his stomach churned when he heard the news of Houlliers departure, yet the actions or should I say veiled threats of his agent some months ago focused us all firmly on Houlliers failures.

The fear of losing Owen was and still is a subject to terrible to contemplate for many fans. So here we are like Spurs a ship in the night with no captain to steer us.

This to me seems like a plot from a Hollywood movie, Houllier was calling the shots, selling players and in his on words "planning for the coming season"

Yet when the Morgan bid failed and the Thaksin bid met difficulties sudddenly the media were alerted that another bigger story was soon to emanate from Anfield.

I have no doubt that Houllier was going my problem is that in the final analysis, I think he left as he entered, namely by the back door because a cheif executive and chairman found themselves in the spotlight.

I think that they used the ficklebuggers philosophy against us and we have succumed to their devilish plot, they are detracting from a more fundemental story namely the future of Liverpool football club.

Simple question for those in the know, whats going on? and was Houllier merely a pawn? A sacraficial lamb to the slaughter, yes he had to go but why now?

Will there be a manager in place, to rub noses with other managers at Euro 2004, thats were loads of deals are done, were agents candidly tell managers of the unhappyness and possible availability of the clients.

This is all a bit too coincidental for me!

by **115-1073096938** » Wed May 26, 2004 12:31 am

Can definately see where you are coming from...

Definately.

by **JBG** » Wed May 26, 2004 12:43 am

While I believe that the time was right for Houllier to go, there are even more fundamental questions that need to be asked about the club in general:

1. What the hell is going on with the Thailand bid? How much control will the Thailanders have over the club? What direction is the club going in?

2. Why are the fans still tolerating David Moores regime in the club? This is a man under whose guidance we have went from the absolute best in the country to a distant 4th (and by the looks of it in slight danger of falling further).

Why aren't there more questions asked of David Moores?

by **zarababe** » Wed May 26, 2004 12:52 am

I suppose the real question is... when was the right time for him to go? No amount of distractions of the field can hide Liverpool's distance in the title race (30pts?). By any standards this is not good enough, by our standrds ?...well I suppose we all have to earn our place and repsect.

We are demanding success in the name of a past glories..., perhaps we are no diffrent to the Birminghams and Charltons of today. Will we have to learn to walk again before we can run or is it simply the journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. Either way lets not kid ourselves, whoever comes in or stays has an almighty task ahead!

[I][I][B]

by **greenred** » Wed May 26, 2004 2:01 am

Houllier was a dead man walking as soon as he said fourth place would be an acceptable season.The directors may have kept it quiet but I would hope they were always going to give him the boot.The Thai bid is very strange.Moores appeares to be pocketing at least 30million of the investment money while holding on to a controlling interest in the club.Moores has only ever invested 10million in the club so he appears to have a massive personal interest in the Thai deal going through.It stinks a bit to me.

by **Big Niall** » Wed May 26, 2004 9:26 am

Moore sounds smart to me. Invest £10m and sell on some of your shares. I'd gladly make £20m and retain a large influence over the club.

Money is money, owning a football club is business, players go to the highest offer, managers jump ship if a bigger club comes along.

Loyalty? what are you about, this is football. We are just customers buying a brand, welcome to the 21st century.

by **Sean** » Wed May 26, 2004 11:17 am

Big Al mentioned that Michael Owen said his stomach churned when he heard Houllier got the boot. I hope Cheyrou, Diouf, Biscan & Diao's conscience's were churning with guilt when they heard the news.

Seán

by **big al** » Wed May 26, 2004 3:51 pm

Sean thats a very good point mate, but Houllier bought them! As I've said Houllier was going but why now? when the spotlight was on the board.

by **adayinthelife** » Thu May 27, 2004 2:29 am

Moores has been under increased pressure since rejecting Morgans bid out of hand due to him not making the 20m+ he will get from the thai bid.
He had to do something to get the fans off his back so therefore did what the majority have been calling for since last season.
He has alot to answer for and the board seemingly not even considering MON the best young british manager by a distance shows his incompetence and again personal feelings are clouding his judgement as we have already seen with Morgan.
If we do not get Benitez or Mourinho then I really do fear who we will have to put up with in the hotseat.

by **azriahmad** » Thu May 27, 2004 5:48 am

Under the Morgan bid, all of the 73 million pounds goes to the club, with non going to Moores or any of the existing shareholders as Morgan undertakes to guarantee or underwrite that all of the 61 million or so rights issue is taken up. The balance 12 million will be a new issue of shares to the shareholders or other interested parties. If Moores were to retain his 51% equity, he has to actually fork out money to buy the shares, otherwise Morgan will take up the new shares and dilute Moores' shareholding.

The Thai bid of some 65 million comes in 2 parts, 30 million or so for purchasing part of Moores' 51% shares with a balance of 35 million for subscription to a new share issue from Liverpool i.e., Liverpool will only receive 35 million.

I have come across somewhere that Moores has invested or advanced 10 million pounds of his own personal money in financing Houllier's purchases; so te club owes him 10 million pounds. The Thai bid makes more sense to him as he will receive a net return of 20 million pounds and still retain the Chairmanship.

Probably the main sticking point is the sole markeng rights requested by the Thais for the Asian market with Liverpool reluctant to accede due to the fact that the Asian market is a potential goldmine as Liverpool has a huge following in Asia after Mnure, just that it has not been explored as advanced ad Manure. Apparently, Moores has agreed to allow the Thais 2 board seats.

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