Liverpool owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett hope to complete a £350m refinancing deal on Thursday to secure their immediate Anfield future.
City observers said on Tuesday the package was under threat, with Dubai International Capital (DIC), waiting in the wings with a proposed takeover bid. But BBC Sport has learned Hicks expects to seal the deal imminently. Hicks will also reveal the revamped design for Liverpool's new stadium at the same time as the cash package.
The twin announcement will be seen as a reaffirmation of Hicks' determination to remain at Anfield along with co-owner George Gillett, despite interest from DIC.The financial package is expected to help the American duo repay money borrowed for their £218.9m takeover in March 2007. They would also then be able to repay loans used to sign players last summer and start work on a re-scaled plan for a new stadium in Stanley Park.
Hicks and Gillett were forced to scale back a futuristic stadium plan in December, but are now ready to unveil a new-look 70,000-capacity arena. If the re-financing package, which has been agreed with the Royal Bank of Scotland and American bank Wachovia, goes ahead as expected, it will strengthen the Americans' position at Anfield. And Hicks will also feel he will be in a stronger position should he decide to sell in the future, dealing a blow to DIC's hopes of mounting a swift bid to take control at Anfield. Hicks and Gillett were the target of crowd demonstrations from Liverpool supporters unhappy with their regime during Monday's televised game against Aston Villa, with banners calling for DIC to mount a bid.
But Hicks, in particular, has remained defiant in the face of protests and insisted he had no intention of selling his 50% share in the club. "I've not received any offer to purchase the club from DIC or anyone else, much less accepted any such offer," Hicks said on Monday. It remains to be seen whether DIC, the investment arm of the Dubai government, will now pull out of a proposed bid to take control at Anfield, with the refinancing package unlikely to clear all the clouds of uncertainty over the club.
BBC Sport revealed on Saturday that DIC's interest had been seriously re-ignited and a potential bid was in place. But it is believed DIC have made it clear they will not pay over the odds for Liverpool, and are not prepared to give Hicks and Gillett a huge profit if they sell. Some City sources believe the new deal, and its interest payments, will only be a financial "sticking plaster" and DIC will wait to see if there are further problems for Hicks and Gillett while maintaining an interest in buying Liverpool. Liverpool decided to sell to Hicks and Gillett instead of DIC in March 2007 but the American businessmen, and Hicks in particular, have been criticised for the way they have run the club.
Hicks admitted holding talks with Jurgen Klinsmann last November about the German taking over from Rafael Benitez as manager. The owners and Benitez have also had a very public spat after the Spaniard criticised their transfer policy. If Hicks has cemented his position via the loan, Benitez's long-term prospects look bleak.
And Liverpool fans will be even more critical after an interview, first broadcast on the Major League Baseball website six months ago, was publicised by the British press on Wednesday. "People are worried that I might take money away from the Texas Rangers [Hicks' baseball franchise] to go to Liverpool," Hicks said. "But it is just the reverse. Liverpool is going to throw off lots of extra money which, if I choose to, I can use for the Rangers or the Dallas Stars ice hockey team."
Source: bbc.co.uk
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