KopTalk.com Forums Football Liverpool FC Forum Hicks: Liverpool FC "very stable"

Tom Hicks has resurfaced to insist that Liverpool Football Club is finally making sound financial progress.

The Reds co-owner claims that things are looking up at Anfield due to new sponsorship deals and future plans.

Hicks said: "You have to look cash flow rather than accounting and we intend to operate Liverpool where it has a very strong positive cash flow so we have the resources to be as competitive as possible on the pitch - that's our commitment.

"We had strong, positive cash flows last year. Our debts levels are at a very comfortable level and we are going to continue bringing it down.

"Our goal is to have less debt than any of the top clubs and that's a commitment we have made and will continue to make.

"It's not sustainable at Manchester City, they won't continue to invest like that as it doesn't make good economic sense. Hopefully they will make the improvements they need to make and then run it more like a business. The smart clubs operate for the long term and you have to look at who have had success for many years.

"We are seeing for the first time the real power of the brand and the power of a well managed club. I feel very good about the entire club. The total sponsorship contracts should probably bring in £25m/£26m of incremental revenue a year. It's a huge development for the club.

"It's not just the £21million that we will develop from the new sponsorship agreement with Standard Chartered because we will have an additional two or three million pounds for the Infinity part of the deal with Standard Chartered.

"We have an existing contract with Carlsberg until the end of the season. Between now and the end of the season we will finalise new arrangements where we will retain the Carlsberg special sponsorship packages and pour Carlsberg products in the stadium. They will be one of our key sponsors, just not on our shirts.

"Knowing Rafa Benitez I suspect he's got his eye on part of it. As we build our revenues it gives ability to be more competitive on the pitch and, this is a very important one, but we think we have other opportunities in the future as well.

"Everybody involved with Liverpool wants to win the Premier League, it's been too many years and it's our goal. I've been in sport for 15 years and sometimes you have to do things to get the players' attention to wake up and really get focused.

"Maybe we have learned the lesson, certainly the way we played Saturday showed that we have. We have stability and the nucleus of the team.

"Everything is very stable. I think the management situation at the club has dramatically improved. There is a real sense of optimism."

He seems like a very nice guy. Not the type to tell a lie or anythhig.

yeah whats the song say? " They dont care about Rafa " who was it that got there backing between the waiter and Parry and who after it was asked to leave? oh yes and who was it that was given a 5 year contract extension even when he was incompetent in his job for the previous 5 seasons in the league? , who was it again who asked for full control of the Academy and also full control over transfers and who got what they asked for? come on whats the song go like again " Thet dont care about Rafa " Am not saying the two Americans are good or bad for the club all am saying is they are not as black as they are painted, fans are using them as a scapegoat. What makes me laugh about this S.O.S. protest is where where they for most of last season when the team was doing well, nowhere, it's a bit like the Glazers at United because United win everything every season you never hear a peep from there fans or about the amount of debt they have put United in, which is far more than ours, just makes me laugh about how fickle footbal;l fans are.

If the cashflow increases payments out can increase. ie transfers, mortgage on a new stadium, nando's next contract.

Cash flow improving can only be a good thing as long as its used for the club and not the owners personal gain.

Story carried overnight in The Mirror claiming the yanks will sell a quarter share of the club for £100m to raise capital to start the stadium. If it is true it would be a better idea than getting a crippling mortgage. They wouldnt pocket as much, but there 75% will go up in value if turnover increases.

The deal is 49%, but the buyers walked away, old news matey. The Mirror are always a bit slow, but usually quite accurate.

Dunk, now it has passed, can you tell what the news was you got on the sale of the club during the summer, who were the buyers? All i heard was 49% was for sale, but the buyers wanted more, and wanted the yanks off the BOD.

In any business cash flow is the most essential part. Without it all you do is chase your tail trying to meet every bill. If it is true then perhaps them holding back money was a good thing.

i am still uncomfy with hicks' business acumen considering this baseball report i just read:

Owner Tom Hicks essentially has lost fiscal control of the Rangers, which has had to borrow at least $15 million from major league baseball. MLB is making many of the calls regarding Rangers' moves, including the one that cost them the ability to sign No. 1 draft pick Matt Purke. The Rangers thought they would be able to offer Purke one amount, but commissioner Bud Selig, responding to pressure from other owners, forced them to back away from that offer and Purke wound up rejecting the team's subsequent lower offer and will play for TCU instead.

worries me that he has managed to get them in such big trouble!