29 May 2016 17:17:53
After the long awaited return of macca to these pages, be interested to hear people thoughts on the potential sale of the club as macca has stated talks have taken place. I personally think it is a dangerous time to be selling.

FSG are by no means perfect but they did save us from the previous owners, invest in the stadium main stand and at least made some sort of effort with the ticket price fiasco earlier this season, even if it is a bit smoke and mirrors, they at least acknowledged the fans response. They have also not held back when it has come to transfers, we'v spent a hell of a lot just not on the right players.

They are stable and consistent if nothing else. My concern is that the money in the PL is so massive we could gather interest from cowboy owners again or a mike Ashley or randy Lerner type only interested in staying up and not developing, and we know how that worked out for them. If we were still finishing or even consistently challenging for top 4/ top awards I wouldn't be as worried, but the way I see it from our position we can either kick on under Klopp and good ownership, or become lost in the mid table and decline even further.

It's not difficult to do, think Leeds, Notts forest even Newcastle have become a shadow of their former selves. We have been clinging onto a glorious past for too long now, and that past can only carry us so far. What do you guys/ eds think? Am I over worrying with this? Are FSG that bad or is a sale a good thing, and if so, who too? China/ Middle East/ more yanks? Be interesting to hear your thoughts.

Many thanks to the eds as always for the Stella job they do in this site!

Westy.


1.) 30 May 2016
30 May 2016 00:16:13
Wow another period of uncertainty, its not like we didn't know it was coming. As fortold by ed002 who is uncannily always spot on (mostly) they are looking to cash in following the tv money kicking in. I thought we would get at least a years grace while klopp was able to mould a good team that can compete.

When it happens i will raise a glass to fsg and thank them for saving my club and putting us on a sound footing moving forward. They made mistakes but they have always tried to be a success and bar that idiot we had in charge for 3 yrs they might have pulled it off. i'm with ron, i'm not looking for a sugar daddy, just owners who want to own us for the right reasons and really understand football.

All i can see is a bright future from here on in, buckle up folks its going to be a roller coaster ride, i'm looking forward to it.


2.) 30 May 2016
30 May 2016 00:33:44
Who put the idiot in charge John?


3.) 30 May 2016
30 May 2016 06:09:14
I hope they stay on, responsible owners with money to spend each transfer window don't come along too often. The risk is probably more on the downside in seeing a change of owners and for what? The chance of a few extra dollars in transfers? We ourselves have proved that spending on transfers isn't a shortcut to success.

I'd like to see FSG continue with Klopp at the helm for a couple more years at least, but if they do sell then fair play and hope the new owners are a positive influence and continue to see the club stable and moving forward.


4.) 30 May 2016
30 May 2016 08:37:01
To the OP. Now seems like the perfect time to sell the club. We have a new stand, new TV money, raised profile internationally despite losing 2 finals, a manager who is well like and looks on course to get us back to the top of the game. The lack of European football will be seen as a bonus for potential buyers as they can come in and be pretty much guaranteed some sort of European qualification over the course of the season. In a few weeks time the bloated squad will be trimmed, there will be less players, less debt (im assuming outgoings will repay some borrowed monies borrowed), the wage bill more manageable and lower and the wages to income ratio at its lowest for a while. Any potential owner would be coming in with a clean slate and the possibility to look like our saviour with minimal investment in players. They can then invest the additional money we could potentially get at the end of the year dependant on whether Europa or Champions league.

In short if I was the owner i would say this is the peak of their plan when the invested and anything else is downhill. All business people look for the point to sell their investment and I believe now is the time. The risks is hey keep hold of us and their investment drops due to poor performance etc.


5.) 30 May 2016
30 May 2016 09:03:55
Ye i agree with taffy. All i would add thrn is that they deserve full credit for getting the club back on its feet.


6.) 30 May 2016
30 May 2016 09:38:49
In terms of intent FSG have been excellent owners, bailing us out and coughing up the cash every transfer window, making the club more financially stable etc. Their lack of football knowledge has let them down, and appointing Brendan wasn't the best move, but they are by no means the worse owners we could have. So of course, if they were to sell up it is a bit of a concern. I just really want a financially astute owner who loves the club and understands football.


7.) 30 May 2016
30 May 2016 09:56:35
It's going to happen at some point, but I disagree that now is the optimum time to sell. When we have won something and are in Europe the club will be worth more. It's whether FSG have the stomach to see it through to that point and how much they are being offered right now.
They have been good owners on the whole. There have been a few issues but I wouldn't want to highlight them as they've been generous with transfer funds, kept out of the limelight most of the time and listened to fans. They're better owners than the majority.


8.) 30 May 2016
30 May 2016 10:35:19
If FSG do sell, then I believe they deserve every penny of profit they get. They have kept all their promises when they bought the club. They financed daily losses. They backed the manager and the transfer committee in their purchases. They are upgrading Anfield. And they have set the house in order and in a far better condition than when they found it. LFC is consistently in the top 5 of spenders, so there really isn't a need for crazy amounts of spending. I doubt if the buyers had been Chinese or Arabs 4 years ago, we would have spent significantly more. FSG has always put their money where their mouth is. Just some of the decisions did not get the desired results, yet every owner takes that risk, regardless of the league they play in. The owners of PSG and Monaco have spent outrageous amounts on players, but where are the Champions League trophies in their cabinets? Money always helps but it's not a guarantee for success. And if all factors and luck are in your favor, then the Leceister example has shown us you don't need to spend huge amounts.

The one thing that I hope for in new owners is sky high, tremendous ego. The kind of ego that will convince them to support and provide for the club in every way possible. And their benefit being the proud owners of a football club with history and prestige, being on top once again. And I'm willing to bet that we will go further with Arab owners than with Chinese, if we look at the ManC and PSG examples. Those little sheikdoms are tremendously competitive with each other (I was born in the Middle East and now work with several of the royal families), and it can only benefit the club.


9.) 30 May 2016
30 May 2016 12:34:45
I would guess that, as businessmen, FSG would sell to the highest bidders rather than the most ethical or sustainable business?


10.) 30 May 2016
30 May 2016 08:40:31
Those who blame FSG are incorrect. Inability of the club, Managers, Tranfer Committe, Scouting teams and average players are the reason they are forced to sell the club. Not sure what more they should do to convince some set of people here. For the money they have spend during the last three years any club on the planet would have won at least one League title except Liverpool.


11.) 30 May 2016
30 May 2016 17:49:21
They are not "forced to sell the club" Kova, they are just trying to time their exit as effectively as possible.


12.) 30 May 2016
30 May 2016 20:46:35
Ron.

They would have no problem had the team won anything substantial during the last 4 years. They have lost the TRUST and that's the reality. This club should have reached heights under them. We have bought close to 50 players in their regime which in is term should be a record.


13.) 31 May 2016
31 May 2016 00:15:08
totally agree kova under them we have reached 2 league cup finals, a f. a. cup final a Europa league final and finished 2nd in the league meaning a season in the champions league, and all we have to show for it is one league cup won on penalties vs Cardiff, they will at least leave anfield with a stadium expansion and a top class manager, shame about the commolli era but nobody's perfect.


14.) 31 May 2016
31 May 2016 00:15:08
totally agree kova under them we have reached 2 league cup finals, a f. a. cup final a Europa league final and finished 2nd in the league meaning a season in the champions league, and all we have to show for it is one league cup won on penalties vs Cardiff, they will at least leave anfield with a stadium expansion and a top class manager, shame about the commolli era but nobody's perfect.


15.) 31 May 2016
31 May 2016 06:08:46
All I'm saying Kova is they are not being forced out or forced to sell.
Do you think they had a plan to stay LFC owners forever?
They're a business, they exist primarily to make money. They were always going to leave and it will happen when they think they are getting the best return for their investment.