An eventful 24hrs has seen a mixture of misdirection, dubious PR, mind games and claims from various parties involved in the takeover of Liverpool Football Club.
Kenny Huang, the Chinese businessman linked with a takeover bid for Liverpool in recent days, started the morning as very much the front runner to gain control at Anfield. As many people sat this morning taking in breakfast or making their way to work, Syrian investor Yahya Kirdi made his move to claim pole position and steal some of the limelight with a series of claims and statements.
The Canada-based former Syria international player represents an investment group of Middle Eastern and Canadian individuals creating a consortium, who state they are are in “advanced negotiations” with Liverpool’s current owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett. Kirdi is a long term friend of George Gillett’s son Foster and previously presented his interest to the club back in April of this year, alongside former Celtic player Andy Lynch but his efforts could not be finalised. Many quarters saw Kirdi’s bid as favourable to the American owners as his 100% direct purchase of the club could in theory force a bidding war, one that would allow Hicks & Gillett to potentially walk away with a higher profit margin as opposed to the believed more hostile takeover methods of Huang and his partners.
Kirdi’s group laid claim they are close to finalising a purchase price, repayment of debt and financing for Liverpool’s planned new stadium in Stanley Park via a statement from their public relations company.
“Yahya Kirdi, who represents a select group of investors from the Middle East and Canada, confirmed today that his group is in advanced negotiations with Thomas Hicks and George Gillett, co-owners of Liverpool Football Club, to purchase 100 per cent of the club.
“Agreement has been reached on all major terms including the purchase price, repayment of the existing bank debt from RBS and Wells Fargo and financing of a new stadium in Liverpool’s Stanley Park. A formal purchase agreement between the parties is in the final stage of negotiation.”
Mr Kirdi said: “Liverpool is a massive football club with passionate and proud fans in Merseyside and in every part of the world. With additional money to improve the squad and financing in place to build the new stadium, LFC will be on a solid foundation to compete in the Premiership and in Europe for years to come.”
In a fresh twist to the takeover saga, just hours later Huang issued a statement via his people, seemingly to try and dilute some of the press attention that he was receiving and take somewhat of a backwards step in to the shadows for a moment as the PR machines of the so called leading bidders jostled for the upper hand.
The statement reads: “In response to widespread media reports that Kenny Huang had made a formal bid for Liverpool Football Club, Mr. Huang would like to emphasise that he has registered interest in investing in Liverpool FC but has made no formal bid.
“There has been much speculation and commentary from a wide array of people, many of whom have little knowledge of the facts. Unless there is a statement that specifically comes from Mr. Huang or his authorised representatives, which presently is solely Hill & Knowlton Hong Kong office, we would suggest such comments should be given little credence.
Huang’s Hong Kong-based public relations advisers Hill and Knowlton announced:
“In response to widespread media reports that Kenny Huang had made a formal bid for Liverpool Football Club, Mr. Huang would like to emphasise that he has registered interest in investing in Liverpool FC but has made no formal bid.
“There has been much speculation and commentary from a wide array of people, many of whom have little knowledge of the facts. Unless there is a statement that specifically comes from Mr. Huang or his authorised representatives, which presently is solely Hill & Knowlton Hong Kong office, we would suggest such comments should be given little credence.
“At this point in time there is nothing further for Mr. Huang to announce. If there comes a time where this changes, we will make the appropriate announcements.”
Kirdi may have enjoyed a few hours of limelight this afternoon but tonight it is reported that Huang has placed a multi billion trump card on the table by confirming to the Liverpool board that his financial backing comes in the form of the China Investment Company (CIC). The CIC are presently China’s largest sovereign wealth fund with assets of circa $332bn (£208bn) but at present it is understood that no party has provided proof of funding to either Liverpool Football Club or in turn the Premier League.
Should this be the case, further confirmation is expected in the next 24hrs on this element, and in turn funding proof is provided, Liverpool may find themselves with an opportunityimpossible to turn down. With CIC being in partnership with Huang, or as is expected, his skill sets are being used to front the package and conclude a deal then Liverpool would find themselves moving from crisis point to not just the wealthiest football club in the world but also in the history of sport.
Aside from the financial aspect, which to some degree is unfathomable in many ways, Liverpool could find themselves via the connections of the bidder, as major force in Asia which is currently an untapped market in the world of football. Avenues may become available to Liverpool Football Club that to some degree could previously of only ever been dreamed off, as well as the opportunity to extend an already passionate, dedicated and global fan base to a whole new level.
Liverpool’s board is presently believed to be considering “five or six” proposals for the takeover of the club. It is logical that this list, if it hasn’t already, is going to be cut down very quickly indeed to a couple of front runners, maybe no different to that of Huang and Kirdi as already expected. The road ahead, projected at lasting ideally around no more than another 10 days due to the pressures of the transfer window, will probably be littered with many more twists, turns and element of misdirection as each consortium look for victory.
Kirdi has already made moves to dampen the CIC breaking news, which is only expected to escalate over the next 24hrs, with talk of more extensive development of a new Anfield than previously planned. As an attractive option as it could be in many ways to the local community and for a whole variety of reasons, it remains as this day closes that the reach of CIC has sent many an imagination into overdrive.