MAY 21
Bid for Reds stake splits Thai nation

Jane Woodhead on the politics behind the Thai Premier's bid for Liverpool FC

It is a move which has divided a country.

Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra wants to buy a 30% stake in Liverpool Football Club. His is one of two bids on the table.

But exactly how the PM, who is worth £560m, will buy the club remains the centre of much controversy.

Will he use public or private money? This is the question which his people are now asking.

And while many footballing fans on both sides of the world welcome this major investment from such a prominent figure, others claim the PM's motives are purely political.

One such person is Somyok Pruksakasemsuk, President of the Democratic Trade Union Alliance in Thailand.

He claims that with a general election looming, the prime minister is looking to score political points.

Speaking exclusively to the ECHO, Mr Pruksakasemsuk, 42, explains: "There is a general election next year and many people believe there is a political agenda behind the prime minister's motives.

"I also believe he is doing this in an attempt to increase his popularity worldwide."

The prime minister will have served four years when the election takes place next year. If reelected, he will serve for a second four-year term.

Mr Pruksakasemsuk believes the prime minister will use public money to buy LFC and says this is something which is vehemently opposed by trade union and non government organisations across Thailand.

Spending public money on LFC is a move which "disgusts" many Thai people.

Mr Pruksakasemsuk believes the premier sees Liverpool as a great business opportunity.

"He justifies using money from the public purse by saying Liverpool would become a part of the Sport Authority of Thailand and there would be all-round benefits.

"But many people in Thailand are asking why this money is not being used to benefit a football team in Thailand and the Thai population."

Mr Pruksakasemsuk says the premier, a successful businessman, does nothing for the poor people in his country.

He admits that people in Thailand are "crazy" about football.

"A large number of people in Thailand watch and support Liverpool. In the over-30 age group, there are more people supporting Liverpool than home Thai teams, but this still does not make it right for public money to be used in such a way."

But his views are not shared by everyone.

Political journalist Pong Gekachote, from Thairath, a morning paper, says around 50% of Thai people support the prime minister.

And Pong says promises have been made that public money will not be used for the deal.

He explains: "In general, the Thai people are very happy with the prime minister. It is not yet known how the money will be raised and there appear to be two alternatives.

"One is that he will use his own funds or funds from himself and business people. The other is for the money to be raised through Thai people being given the chance to buy a share of Liverpool Football Club through the sale of lottery tickets."

Pong says many people believe the deal would help to promote the professional game of football to the young Thai population and at the same time promote Thai products.

Let Mangarakelee, a sous chef originally from Bangkok but now living in Allerton, also supports the PM.

He believes he has a right to use public money if he chooses.

"Using public money will make Thailand more prosperous and more well known in Liverpool. It will help to encourage more people to visit our country." Let does not believe the PM's motives are political.

"I believe the PM just wants the best for Thailand and I think it is good news that he has the potential to buy such a large chunk in the club. There is no doubt a large number of Thai people are avid Liverpool supporters."

Let's views are shared by Thai Pinet Dhamdusdi, now living in Greasby, who has supported Liverpool for more than 20 years.

"If the prime minister decides to use public money, the Thai people will eventually benefit from the shares. This is an investment which will bring profitable returns for Thailand. It will have many benefits, including helping to make the UK more popular in the Far East."

Meanwhile, as Thailand awaits confirmation from the prime minister of exactly how he will raise the funds, in Liverpool we await the decision of the club board as to which bid it will accept.

What Thaksin Shinawatra is offering

The Thai PM is offering £60m, which would see him buying a 30% stake in the club. The deal would allow him to market the LFC brand in the Far East.

This deal could result in a potential change of power at LFC with current chairman David Moore's 51% shareholding being watered down to the point where he would no longer have overall control.

What Steve Morgan is offering

The other bid is from building magnate and former brickie Steve Morgan, from Garston, worth about £312m.

He has a 5% stake in the club and proposes to invest £73m - underwriting a new share scheme worth £61m and £12m of shares issued for fans to buy.

It would let David Moores buy new shares to stay in control, but allow Morgan on to the board.

MAY 21
Liverpool snub Morgan again

BBC Sport Online

Millionaire Liverpool fan Steve Morgan says he has had a revised bid to invest in the club turned down.

Morgan had an offer to plough £73m into Liverpool rejected as "not attractive" by the board earlier this month.

But he revealed on Friday he had since "totally changed" the structure of the bid, and increased the price per share.

"This revised offer has also been turned down by both the chairman and the Liverpool board," a statement from his representatives claimed.

Morgan now says he is "reluctantly withdrawing" the new bid, which was the third he has made to Liverpool.

A £50m offer was turned down earlier this season, followed by the £73m bid and now this latest attempt to buy into a club he has always supported.

He now appears to have walked away from investing in the club, leaving Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra a clear path to negotiate his own, £60m offer for 30% of Liverpool.

However, that offer now appears to have hit a snag of its own.

"I would like to thank the many thousands of fans who backed the bid and my family who have been totally supportive," he said.

"I remain totally committed to Liverpool Football Club and would implore the board to bring all of the uncertainty surrounding both the club and the manager to a rapid conclusion."

Morgan said after the first offer was rejected: "It was pretty apparent that the board was not willing to speak to me about any kind of deal.

"But I hope I have highlighted failures at management and board levels."

MAY 21
Thailand's Liverpool bid still on hold

By Trirat Puttajanyawong - Reuters

Thailand's bid for a stake in Liverpool will not be completed until next week at the earliest, Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra says.

Negotiations over the 4.6 billion baht (63 million pounds) bid for a 30 percent stake in the club are believed to have stalled over the level of Thai representation on the Liverpool board.

"There definitely won't be any signing this Friday, Saturday or Sunday," Thaksin said in response to media reports that the deal could be completed this weekend.

"But we are trying to wrap up the deal next week because we don't want to see it drag on," the telecoms-tycoon turned politician told reporters.

The Thais want two seats on the Liverpool board while the club are offering only one, Thai newspapers reported.

Liverpool are 51 percent owned by chairman David Moores, whose family has had control for half a century, and 9.9 percent owned by television company Granada.

Thaksin has said Moores' holding would drop to around 35 percent if the deal went ahead.

"The pending issue in the talks involves the question of minority protection. We don't hold the majority. 30 percent is a minority and there should be reasonable protection. It is not a small amount of money," Thaksin said.

Liverpool officials have said the talks are ongoing, but refuse to comment further.

Deputy Commerce Minister Pongsak Raktapongpisal, the chief Thai negotiator, said 80 to 90 percent of the details had been worked out, but the shareholder rights issue was still pending.

The Thais, who said earlier this week they had an agreement in principle with Liverpool, are waiting for the club's response to their latest amendments.

"Now we wait. In any business deal, the first step is the signing of the MOU (memorandum of understanding). If further negotiations cannot be concluded, the deal may be off," Pongsak told Reuters.

Thaksin has said the Thai offer would inject 45 million pounds into the club, which needs investment to buy players and help fund the construction of a bigger stadium.

The rest will go to buy shares from existing shareholders.

The billionaire prime minister was initially expected to put up some of his own money. He ran into fierce opposition when officials suggested government funds would be used.

Thaksin now wants to set up a company to manage the investment, and raise funds to finance the purchase through a one-off state lottery.

Critics say the money will be wasted and they doubt Thaksin's claim that the deal will benefit Thai soccer by setting up a Liverpool academy in the southeast Asian country.

MAY 19
Thai deal in jeopardy

By Tony Barrett - Liverpool Echo

The Thai bid to buy a 30% stake in Liverpool FC could collapse over a series of hitches.

Thai sources claim the club is reluctant to allow the consortium two seats on the Anfield board and total control of commercial rights in Asia in return for prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's proposed £65m investment.

It has also emerged that the Bank of Thailand may not be willing to bankroll the offer in case it appears biased towards the country's present government.

Liverpool is still refusing to comment on the situation but PM Thaksin says he remains hopeful a deal can be sealed.

He said today: "We can do something to a certain extent to narrow the difference between the two sides."

The governor of the Thai central bank, Pridiyathorn Devakula, is understood to be concerned about approving the multi-million pound transaction in case it gives the political opposition ammunition to use against him.

A central bank official in Bangkok said: "We have to look at things like this on a case by case basis. But we have not yet been asked to consider the Liverpool deal."

Another sticking point is believed to be Thaksin's insistence that the consortium is represented with two places on the Liverpool board of directors.

The Anfield club is thought to be highly reluctant to offer boardroom representation as part of any deal, although Thai sources remain confident a compromise will be reached.

If the Thai bid is dead in the water it could leave Liverpool without any new investment.

Only last week, Liverpool had two bids on the table - one from Thaskin and one from property tycoon Steve Morgan - with the promise of millions of pounds to be spent on new players and a proposed new stadium.

But after rejecting Mr Morgan's offer because it was deemed "unattractive", Anfield officials will be hoping they do not miss out on their preferred bid and the cash riches it could bring with it.

MAY 18
Whether it's Moores or Morgan,
Reds are onto a real winner

By Ian Rush - Liverpool Echo

I have no idea about the politics in the boardroom at Liverpool Football Club, but I know both David Moores and Steve Morgan very well.

It's fair to say they're different characters, but they have one thing in common. They both passionately love the club.

I hope it's possible they can work together in the future, although I have no idea if that's possible.

Now we've finished the season in fourth, I think it's worth placing on record how delighted I am for the chairman.

In my view, he's the best chairman in the Premiership. He's never sought credit for himself when things are going well but put his head on the block earlier in the year when the club was strongly criticised.

It was very honest of him to say he'd consider his position if we didn't finish fourth because at the time, that wasn't a certainty.

Steve is a bit more outspoken than David, but his ambitions are the same. To help Liverpool Football Club be the most successful team in Europe again.

Clearly the club is in need of a cash injection to help us buy the top players. It would be great if things could be worked out between Steve and David because the more financial assistance at the club, the better.

Knowing both men as I do, I'd be delighted if both were involved in helping Liverpool back where we belong.

MAY 18
Thai offer set to be knocked back

By Andy Hunter - Daily Post

Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra must revise the £63million offer to invest in Liverpool if the Anfield board are to embrace his controversial proposal.

Liverpool directors have yet to give their verdict on the bid discussed at a board meeting last Thursday, when Steve Morgan's £75m share rights issue was rejected.

But it is understood Shinawatra's offer is not acceptable in its current form and must be changed in order to gain approval from the Anfield hierarchy.

Chief among Liverpool's concerns is the issue of the club's commercial rights in Asia.

Liverpool are unwilling to meet Shinawatra's demands and relinquish control of those rights, which are set to become even more lucrative as Asia's economic fortunes improve.

And despite pressure from the Thai government to reach a final decision over their offer this stumbling block must be resolved before further progress is made. Shinawatra's representatives have revealed he will announce the outcome of his bid on Friday but Anfield officials have put no such timescale on the proposal.

MAY 18
Thailand to fund Liverpool purchase with public lottery

AFP

Thailand would hold a public lottery to fund the purchase of a 30 percent stake in Premier League side Liverpool, officials said Tuesday as premier Thaksin Shinawatra said he was close to clinching the deal.

Thaksin, a self-made billionaire who founded a telecommunications empire before entering politics, was initially expected to pay for the Liverpool stake out of his own pocket along with a consortium of investors.

But the government has subsequently said it will handle the financing, although no taxpayer money will be used.

Sports Authority of Thailand governor Santiparb Tejavanija said the cabinet had approved a scheme to fund the purchase through a special 10 billion baht (245 million dollar) lottery with a first-prize jackpot of 1.0 billion baht.

Half the funds raised will be spent on buying the Liverpool stake while the rest will go to prize money and administration costs. As well as a chance in the draw, participants will also receive Liverpool stock certificates, he said.

"The public will be offered first priority and then private companies, and we expect to go ahead in the next three months," Sanitparb said, adding that the scheme was dependent on Liverpool's green light.

"There are some issues that need to be resolved, the deal is not yet final," he told AFP.

Thaksin said he was confident the deal would be reached later this week, as the two sides had reached agreement on 60 percent of the purchase.

"Now 60 percent is comfortable, and there's still another 40 percent that we still have to discuss before we agree," he told reporters.

Thaksin said there were three or four minor points which required further talks and clarification before a resolution could be announced.

"In principle there shouldn't be any problem," he said. "We submitted the MOU (memorandum of understanding) to them and they countered with their draft to us and then we have to have further negotiation."

"Things should conclude this week," he said, adding he would send top government, sports and legal representatives to Britain on Wednesday to work out the details of the agreement.

Thaksin said he was pursuing other options in case the Liverpool deal fell through and he was confident that by next month Thailand would have bought into the Premier League.

"Last night Liverpool informed me over the progress made and I do hope that we won't have any problem, but if we cannot agree with Liverpool we still have alternatives," he said.

"It's likely that within June we will buy a share in the Premier League."

Officials said Monday that executives from other teams were taking part in meetings in Bangkok with the premier, but described them as "unofficial".

Liverpool fans largely oppose the bid by Thai premier, who made an unsuccessful play for Fulham last year.

Rights groups have also seized on his government's questionable human rights record, particularly a bloody "war on drugs" that left thousands dead, to argue the deal is inappropriate.

However, Thaksin's chances of success appeared to increase last week after Liverpool rebuffed a rival offer from local businessman Steve Morgan, a long-standing critic of the current board, worth some 128 million dollars.

MAY 18
Liverpool accept Thai bid

Ananova

Thailand's Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra claims Liverpool have accepted his £60million bid to buy a 30 per cent stake in the club.

The Liverpool board have to choose between Thaksin's offer and a rival £73million bid from building tycoon and lifelong fan Steve Morgan.

David Moores, whose family has had control of Liverpool for half a century, owns 51% of the club and television company Granada have a 9.9% share.

The board have claimed Morgan's offer does not represent the true value of the club.

Morgan aimed to raise £61million with a rights issue and £12million through a share issue, but directors branded the plan "unattractive" after a board meeting on Thursday.

Thaksin, a billionaire telecoms tycoon before he turned to politics, has said he wants to promote Thai football and employ Liverpool coaches to lift the lacklustre national game up to international standards.

"In principle they agreed to give it to us and now we are working on details," Thaksin told the BBC.

Spokesman Santiparb Tejavanija said: "I am flying to Liverpool tonight. Our proposal has been approved."

Santiparb, whose Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) was appointed by Thaksin to work on the details of the investment, added: "What I will sign in England would be something of a memorandum of understanding or letter of intent.

"After that we will work on the legal details of the investment."

MAY 17
Sports minister says government body
will set up company to buy Liverpool shares

Associated Press

The Thai government will set up a company to buy shares in Liverpool if the English soccer club's board approves a bid made by Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra for a 30 percent stake, the sports minister said Monday.

The Liverpool board was expected to announce late Monday its decision on Thaksin's offer, whose chances seemed to have improved after a competing offer by British property tycoon Steve Morgan was rejected.

"It is most likely that we (Thailand) will be have a 30 percent share of Liverpool. We only await the official announcement from them," Tourist and Sport Minister Sonthaya Khunpleum told the Business Radio station.

Sonthaya said the Sports Authority of Thailand, a government body, is ready to set up a company that will "mobilize funds of about 4.6 billion baht (US$115 million) to buy shares from Liverpool."

He said the Sport Authority of Thailand will hold 51 percent in the company and the rest will be allocated to private investors.

"There are several private investors including myself who have expressed their intention to buy shares. I want to be the owner of Liverpool like several others Thais," Sonthaya said.

He did not elaborate or clarify whether the 51 percent government ownership in the new company would mean that public funds would be partly used to fund the purchase.

Thaksin, a telecommunications tycoon turned politician, had initially indicated that he would use his personal wealth to buy the Liverpool shares. But later Thaksin gave the deal a nationalistic tinge by saying all Thais should have ownership in any such venture.

Thaksin said Monday that if his bid is approved, "I think we can sign the contract later this week, maybe Friday."

He said he would want Liverpool striker Michael Owen to witness the signing ceremony here.

On Saturday, Thaksin said owning a stake in Liverpool could deliver economic benefits to local businesses through merchandising deals and help launch lucrative international careers for young Thai soccer players.

As part of the deal, Thaksin wants Liverpool to set up a soccer academy in Thailand.

MAY 16
Morgan struggles to win over shareholders

BreakingNews.ie

Steve Morgan may have won over the Kop, but his £73m (€108m) package to buy his way into Liverpool has not been met with the overwhelming approval of many small shareholders.

The millionaire businessman was given a hero’s reception as he strode into Anfield before Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle and took up his seat in the directors’ box near to chairman David Moores.

But although the Kop paraded banners like “We want Morgan, say no to Thai blood money”, there are many shareholders who are not in favour of the Jersey-based former building magnate’s rights and share issue scheme.

One shareholder said: “I have taken lots of calls from shareholders with holdings not too much different to Steve’s 5%, and lots are not happy with the scheme he has put forward. They are clearly being asked to finance Steve’s offer to the club.

“Not only would Moores have to pay something like £30m (€44m) to buy enough new shares to maintain his majority holding, all the other shareholders are being asked to pay out too if they want to keep their percentages.

“The amount of shares would double, everybody’s holding would be affected, and the share price would drop.

“Frankly, Steve is asking all of us to fund his own offer of £73m (€108m). He has underwritten it, but if shareholders don’t want to see their holdings devalued, they have to buy into the rights issue.”

That would reduce considerably how much Morgan would have to pay out as underwriter for the deal.

Morgan would only say as he entered Anfield: “I can only thank the fans for their support, it has been fantastic.”

And chief executive Rick Parry, when asked about the Thai deal, said: “There is nothing more on that.”

The Liverpool board are still considering the £60m (€88.9m) offer from Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to buy 15,000 new shares at £4,000 (€5,900) each, twice the amount Morgan’s offer values them at.

Sources at Anfield admit that the uproar over the Thai bid and the anger amongst Liverpool fans over dealing with a country with such a bad human rights record is deeply concerning the board.

It is being suggested one way around the current impasse would be for Morgan to take on the terms similar to the Thai deal and buy some of the shares that have been offered to Thaksin.

That would keep his new holding well below Moores, who would drop from majority to major shareholder but still control the club. Such a situation would reduce Morgan’s chances of ousting boss Gerard Houllier, who has been given the support of Moores and the board to take the club into next season.

But the Anfield board are far from happy with Morgan’s present offer, which they feel undervalues the club and described last week as “not attractive.”

It certainly was not attractive for Moores. Under the proposals it would cost him £30m (€44m) to buy into the rights issue and retain his majority holding, and around £20m (€29.6m) just to remain happy as the major shareholder.

Morgan would have been able to buy his extra 5%, equal to his current holding, and would almost certainly have mopped up Granada’s 9.9%, because the TV giants are seemingly unwilling to put any more money into the club.

The danger for Moores with Morgan’s current offer is that many small shareholders, and probably himself, would not take up their rights issue and Morgan would almost certainly be able to take a controlling interest of the club.

But Morgan’s attack on manager Gerard Houllier is considered to have further entrenched the board, and one source said: “To have been so openly against the manager, and therefore, the chairman, has not helped the sides come together.”

Morgan gave the board seven days to accept his offer when it was made last week, and it is unlikely that his deadline will be met.

Now Liverpool’s under-pressure directors must decide whether to go with the Thai bid and risk the wrath of the majority of fans.

MAY 16
Anfield family atmosphere under threat

By Colin Malam - The Daily Telegraph

It appeared so straightforward at the beginning of last week. First, a consortium fronted by the Thai prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, wanted to invest about £70 million in Liverpool. Then wealthy supporter Steve Morgan challenged that prospective deal with an offer of up to £73 million.

Look out Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, the message seemed to be from Anfield, we will soon be back in your financial league!

All that waving of massive cheques should have been a cue for doubles, or even trebles, all round on the red half of Merseyside. Instead, Liverpool find themselves plunged into something approaching civil war. At the very least, the directors and manager of the club appear to be seriously at odds with supporters over the best way to proceed.

Although the board's rejection of Morgan's offer as inadequate did not seem to close the door completely on him, there is little doubt the Liverpool directors would prefer to go ahead with the Thai deal. The supporters, on the other hand, have made it abundantly clear that they are overwhelmingly in favour of Morgan's proposals. A poll conducted by the Liverpool Echo showed 87 per cent backed him.

That is perfectly understandable, given that Morgan is a local man who has spoken for many of the fans with his criticism, at the last two annual meetings, of the way the club is being run. So far as the average supporter is concerned, a self-made millionaire from Garston would be infinitely preferable to a politician with a dubious allegiance to Liverpool FC and an even more questionable record on human rights.

The trouble is that David Moores, the Liverpool chairman, cannot stand Morgan and, so far, has indicated he will not have him on the board at any price. Where the animosity began, nobody is quite certain; but we can be pretty sure that Morgan's bitter criticism of Moores and manager Gerard Houllier has not improved the relationship. Quite clearly, Moores sees Morgan as a threat to his own position and to Houllier's.

As this is not the first time Morgan has attempted to gain a seat on the Liverpool board, there is every chance the Thai deal was seen as a way of ruling him out of the equation. More money is certainly required at Anfield, given the £80 million committed to the proposed new stadium in Stanley Park, the £40 million discrepancy between Houllier's buying and selling of players and the need to strengthen the squad this summer; but Morgan's offer of assistance has the smell of revolution about it.

He is not going to go away, though. He may not make another bid to join the board, but it is highly unlikely he will stop voicing his complaints, if necessary, about the quality of Houllier's signings and the manager's perceived failure to take the team to another, higher, more adventurous stage following that marvellous season of the three trophies, 2000-01.

So, even if Liverpool do go ahead with the Thai deal, Moores will continue to find himself between a rock and a hard place next season should the team fail again to challenge for the Premiership title and make an unconvincing return to the Champions League. Success in both spheres would change everything, of course; and that, no doubt, is what Moores and his fellow directors are relying on.

If that is so, then Houllier will be under enormous pressure this summer to get his signings absolutely spot-on. He cannot afford again to spend fortunes on players who contribute little to the team, as he did in the case of El Hadji-Diouf, Salif Diao and Bruno Cheyrou following the 2002 World Cup. Houllier argues that Diouf helped Liverpool to win the Worthington Cup last season, but supporters brought up on league titles want much more.

The sad part about all this is that Moores appears to be cutting off his nose to spite his face. Both he and Morgan are passionately committed supporters of Liverpool and ought to be working together to restore the club to their former glory. Then there would be no need to go looking for the outside help that could easily destroy the family atmosphere that has always been one of Anfield's strengths.

Liverpool were not the biggest club around when they dominated English and European football in the Seventies and Eighties. They lorded it over everybody because they were particularly well-managed. Moores and his fellow directors would do well to remember that as they consider the new financial options.

Thor Zakariassen ©