Supporters groups Spirit of Shankly and
ShareLiverpoolFC have unveiled a new, joint proposal to buy
Liverpool.
The supporters' organisations are unhappy with the financial
structure of the club following the takeover by Americans George
Gillett and Tom Hicks.
The key change to the original "member-share" proposal is a
reduction of the share price from £5,000 to £500.
Gillett and Hicks were expected to complete a refinancing of the
club's £350m debt on Thursday.
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A statement from the SLFC board said: "This is a realistic plan
that squares the circle: How to get broadly based fan ownership of
the club, and relieve the level of debt, by offering Liverpool fans
an affordable entry fee and a chance to get a modest return for
their additional financial support.
"Now we need all those Liverpool fans to carefully consider the
proposals in detail on our website - and let us know what they
think."
The supporters' groups first proposed a takeover - the model of
which is based upon that operated by Barcelona, Real Madrid and
other European clubs - in January 2008.
Initially they hoped to raise £500m from 100,000 fans each
paying the £5000 'entry fee', but this has now been reduced.
The aim is to acquire a 60% stake in the club by raising £150m
while seeking a "commercial partner" to invest £100m for a 40%
stake.
In June 2009, it was announced the parent company of the club,
owned by Tom Hicks and George Gillett, lost £42.6m in the year to
August 2008, largely as a result of interest payments that had to
be made to service the debt taken on by Kop Football Holdings when
it purchased the club in February 2007.
On Tuesday, the BBC learnt that the club were close to
renegotiating its debt with the Royal Bank of Scotland - one of the
two banks to which it owes money.
bbc
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