Isnin, Februari 02, 2009

Kuwaiti businessmen close to Hicks attend Anfield

A group of Kuwaiti businessmen were at Anfield on Sunday with Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks to watch the 2-0 victory over Chelsea as the American tries to attract new investors.

The party featured members of the Al-Kharafi family and a real estate executive, who the Hicks camp has been talking to about helping to fund a 60,000-seat replacement stadium for Anfield.

Hicks sent key personnel to Kuwait and other countries in the region to find investors able to provide the capital that will help him meet his financial obligations to Liverpool -- notably building the new stadium -- and reducing the club's debt.

Liverpool finance director Philip Nash met earlier this month with billionaire Nasser Al-Kharafi, who owns The Kharafi Group which is building the 60,000-seat Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait.

Hicks was at Anfield on Sunday with co-owner George Gillett Jr. -- the first time in 13 months that they had been seen at the same match.

Their relationship deteriorated throughout 2008 and, in a clear sign of their lingering divisions, they were separated by more than a dozen seats in the directors' box.

Hicks has already met with Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez about trying to extend the Spaniard's contract and further talks are expected while the Americans are in Britain. A board meeting is expected to take place Monday.

But an obstacle to those negotiations succeeding remains chief executive Rick Parry, whose resignation Hicks has demanded, and the extent of Benitez's power over him when signing players.

"I was talking to Mr. Hicks -- now I don't know anything so I will try to enjoy today," Benitez said.

The search for new investors comes as a July deadline approaches to refinance the loan that funded the Americans' 218.9 million-pound takeover two years ago.

That financing package of around $363.4 million must be renewed by July after a six-month extension was granted by the Royal Bank of Scotland and US investment bank Wachovia. But RBS recently announced huge losses and may not be in a position to extend further financing.


SI.com