Liverpool FC supporters group Spirit of Shankly (SoS) has written a letter to the club to seek ‘further information and greater clarity’ on prospective investment in LFC from a consortium involving Jeff Bezos.
On Monday, Sky News reporter Mark Kleinman broke the news that the group of potential investors (led by Amit Bhatia and also including Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin) is nearing a deal to purchase a stake of approximately one-third in the Merseyside club.
SoS writes to Liverpool FC over potential consortium investment
Communicating via its official website, SoS confirmed that it has written to Liverpool FC with five key questions regarding the potential sale of a stake in the club:
- When is the ownership expecting to conclude a potential sale?
- What will the purchasers get in return – board seats, level of involvement in the control of the club on and off the pitch, dividends or other financial returns?
- Is this part of a planned wider sale, or a one-off?
- What is the reasoning for FSG considering such a sale?
- What due diligence is being done on the potential investors/owners? This is about their plans, reasons for purchase and involvement in sports or business elsewhere
The group also requested a meeting with Liverpool FC to discuss the matter, with the club responding to affirm that ‘if anything became more formalised, they would be willing to meet with the Supporters Board’.
SoS added: ‘The latest report of a 30% sale and the consortium set up to buy it is significant. The ownership and custodianship of our club is paramount to SOS and all supporters.
‘We have witnessed similar sales at other clubs resulting in notable changes in the running of that club and football operations, leading to decisions and behaviours that many would not want to see at Liverpool.’
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Supporters’ concerns are completely valid
We welcome the proactivity of SoS in contacting the club with those pertinent questions regarding the potential investment from the Bhatia-led consortium, given the extreme importance of what it could mean for LFC and its supporters.
There are legitimate queries to be addressed in terms of whether the investment group is coming on board with a view to ultimately gaining majority control at Anfield and succeeding FSG at the helm, and what their reasons are for wanting to get involved in Liverpool.
No shortcuts can afford to be taken on exercising due diligence over the backgrounds of the people involved in the consortium. Bhatia may be the driving force, but Bezos is its most globally recognisable figure, and some of his previous actions may come as a major red flag to LFC fans.
He pledged vocal and financial support to Donald Trump in the most recent U.S. presidential election, backing a politicial leader whose right-wing populism is at odds with the socialist, collective beliefs of the Reds’ fan base.
Concerns have also been raised about the consortium treating LFC as a pure money-making machine rather than a historic and globally revered football club, with fears that loyal fans could be priced out and have their opinions completely neglected.
We’ve already been through the wringer with Tom Hicks and George Gillett, so any large-scale investment in Liverpool should be treated with the utmost caution, especially in this particular instance.
I fully agree with the concerns and questions raised by SOS, as reported above. As it is reported, this consortium contains elements/personnel, meriting careful scrutiny and due diligence, before any agreements/contracts are signed.
What due diligence did FSG and SOS do on AXA and Standard Chartered being sponsors at LFC? Did SOS write a letter to Henry to explain why he donated millions to the Trump party?
What is the reasoning for FSG considering such a sale
Answer because they are trying to raise capital for
their other franchises, especially Boston red Sox.
What will the purchasers get in return, dividends or other financial rewards.
Answer, it’s common sense that when you spend around 1.5 billion someone will want to be on the board having a say on decisions, they wont be passive owners. They’ll also want a return on their investment whatever the club makes in revenues theyll get a share.
Just a few Question for FSG, will FSG take all of the 1.5 billion out of Liverpool football club and invest it in their other franchises. Is Liverpool football club just a cash cow for Greedy charlatan owners FSG.
Who are worth 7 billion.
Who have decimated the current Liverpool squad which isn’t fit for purpose.
I’ve got no concerns over what the woke brigade think of Trump or Bezos, keep politics out of football.
We need Ambitious owners who want success, who want to win trophies every season.
Make a profit by all means but if you don’t invest on the pitch Liverpool football club will sink into oblivion.
I hope this consortium buys the whole club, FSG have failed, and have taken Liverpool as far as possible.
Partial success isnt good enough at Liverpool football club, success is what Manchester city have achieved under their ownership.
Hopefully it’s the beginning of the end of charlatan owners FSG who wanted the super league.
FSG have not failed – what are you going on about?
– Re-developed Anfield
– Built up revenue
– Won trophies
– Built up the value of Liverpool
What more do you want?
Who paid for the stadium expansions? How was the revenue increased by FSG?
It was Klopp’s brilliance as a coach and manager which won those trophies, nothing to do with FSG. Klopp was brought in by fsg to guarantee a CL place every season and with luck win a domestic cup
Who benefits the most with the value of the club increasing? FSG just sold 1.6 billion of LFC to new investors and not one penny goes back into LFC’s bank balance
👌👌👌👌👌👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 Perfectly worded
Anyone who doesn’t see that this is a bad idea is an enemy of Liverpool! Period. This is how FSG will get hooked and dragged by their asses to the other side of the Big, Big river!
I must be an enemy then.
Supported them for over 50 years born and bred in Liverpool.
Everyone I speak to here in Liverpool, including a die hard supporter who has travelled the world following Liverpool, has welcomed Bezos and his mates investing and hope, like me, they take full control.
Do you think United supporters care about Jim Ratcliffe’s politics, as long as they get their 100,000 seater stadium? Many will support his views too.
We may then have owners who are interested in winning trophies. These fellas are seriously wealthy and don’t need to make a few million from LFC. So I can only assume they want to make Liverpool a global football powerhouse.
If our saintly virtue signalling supporters are waiting for a mega rich socialist saint to buy the club they’ll have a long wait.
The majority of scouse Liverpool supporters will be excited about this. However, the politically active or
one’s with the strongest views always make their feelings heard more. Just like a union is run by hard left people, the members are often a lot more moderate.
Seems like a lot of people just can’t stand rich people.
Hope they buy out FSG in full and asap.
You nailed it 👏👏👏👌👌👌
I’ve also followed Liverpool since the late 1950’s we were down then, but we got up and it wasn’t big money that make us great, it was the the indomitable spirit of the people of Liverpool. their love of the game and all it encompasses.