Spirit of Shankly - Ownership Developments

[SpiritOfShankly]

The Liverpool Supporters' Union, Spirit of Shankly have noted the developments overnight at Liverpool Football Club. Leaving aside the embarrassment of our Club's ownership and senior management playing out open warfare in public, supporters will be encouraged to see the ownership of Hicks and Gillett possibly coming to an end. However, we have been here before. In 2007. The identity and nationality of any owners of Liverpool Football Club is irrelevant. How they act as custodians is the most important thing and we have seen previously that initial announcements and promises made by new owners and the checks and due diligence made by those entrusted with that role on our behalf have all been left wanting. This must not happen again.

 

The supporters are not as naive as they were in 2007. For one, Spirit of Shankly is a vibrant and demanding representative organisation of its members and we will expect to see full details of how any purchase is to be financed and what difference any new owners will make in terms of recognising how supporters see the future of the Club. It is disappointing that none of the potential purchase groups are yet to engage with Spirit of Shankly and we would expect that to happen now before any sale is concluded so the issues most closely concerning supporters can be discussed. The supporters' concerns are how they propose to purchase the Club, how their business model is different to the current owners, their measurable ambitions for the Club, the investment they intend to make on the playing side, what their stadium solution is likely to be and also their attitude in relation to allowing supporters to invest and be represented within the Club.

 

Hicks and Gillett have not yet gone, and any excitement concerning new owners will be measured by how they recognise the current atmosphere and attitudes of supporters. New owners are not walking into a Club of supporters with open arms, there will be one gently outstretched hand of welcome while the other hand contains a list of questions that will need honest and open answers before any welcome becomes more warm.

 

New owners will have seen the strength of feeling and the actions taken by thousands upon thousands of supporters to get rid of the current owners. That strength needs to be respected and acknowledged, not through press conferences, photo opportunities and false promises - it needs to be acknowledged by any new owners making a sincere and permanent pact with the supporters that sees supporters inside the Club and integral to it, not seen as consumers, stakeholders or customers because this is Liverpool Football Club, our Club.

 

And finally, don't forget, Tom and George You're Still Not, and never will be, Welcome Here.

 

Spirit of Shankly - Ownership Developments – Spirit Of Shankly – Liverpool Supporters' Union

[Turkish Delight]

I have to admit to being an SOS skeptic in the past but have been impressed by the organisation of the march and in getting fan voices heard lately.

 

There's still a long way until we know whether we will get what we want but keep up the good work and making the right noises.

[TheHitman]

Good statement and pretty much sums up my view on matters at the moment.

[Hodgsons Undies]

Thank fuck weve got an organisation in place looking after our interests this time around. Great work SOS.

[captainharris]

SOS have come in for a lot of stick, and I've been impressed with the way things have been organised recently.

 

However, I'm not quite sure why they think that meeting with prospective owners will help. All theyve ever been fed in the past is a pack of lies whenever they've met anyone to do with the ownership of the club.

 

If a new owner agrees to meet you and tell you that we'll be spending £xm on players and redeveloping the stadium, regenerationg the area etc etc would you believe them?

[llego]

well done SOS. Youve moved intelligently from something of a divisive group to an organization that represents the majority of fans.

[Malarkey]

I don't think meeting with them will find anything out because as we've already learned, if our custodians are going to fuck us in the arse, they will.

 

But still, you might aswell meet them to show who they're fucking with if, like H&G, they try and pull a fast one.

[23CARRAGOLD]

It would be nice to have all, or a majority, of Liverpool fans together under the name of SOS. The power and influence we would then have to be able to get our questions answered by the people at the top would be undeniable.

 

I suppose that theres always gonna be people who are cynical of the intentions of people though. Its sad that we are missing out on a massive opportunity to show any prospective owner that we are not your average 'consumer' who just takes whats thrown at him as long as theres 11 fellas kicking a ball round on the pitch.

[PaulMcC]

I wish every Liverpool would join SOS and have their say.

[R2 D2]

The Liverpool Supporters' Union, Spirit of Shankly have noted the developments overnight at Liverpool Football Club. Leaving aside the embarrassment of our Club's ownership and senior management playing out open warfare in public, supporters will be encouraged to see the ownership of Hicks and Gillett possibly coming to an end. However, we have been here before. In 2007. The identity and nationality of any owners of Liverpool Football Club is irrelevant. How they act as custodians is the most important thing and we have seen previously that initial announcements and promises made by new owners and the checks and due diligence made by those entrusted with that role on our behalf have all been left wanting. This must not happen again.

 

The supporters are not as naive as they were in 2007. For one, Spirit of Shankly is a vibrant and demanding representative organisation of its members and we will expect to see full details of how any purchase is to be financed and what difference any new owners will make in terms of recognising how supporters see the future of the Club. It is disappointing that none of the potential purchase groups are yet to engage with Spirit of Shankly and we would expect that to happen now before any sale is concluded so the issues most closely concerning supporters can be discussed. The supporters' concerns are how they propose to purchase the Club, how their business model is different to the current owners, their measurable ambitions for the Club, the investment they intend to make on the playing side, what their stadium solution is likely to be and also their attitude in relation to allowing supporters to invest and be represented within the Club.

 

Hicks and Gillett have not yet gone, and any excitement concerning new owners will be measured by how they recognise the current atmosphere and attitudes of supporters. New owners are not walking into a Club of supporters with open arms, there will be one gently outstretched hand of welcome while the other hand contains a list of questions that will need honest and open answers before any welcome becomes more warm.

 

New owners will have seen the strength of feeling and the actions taken by thousands upon thousands of supporters to get rid of the current owners. That strength needs to be respected and acknowledged, not through press conferences, photo opportunities and false promises - it needs to be acknowledged by any new owners making a sincere and permanent pact with the supporters that sees supporters inside the Club and integral to it, not seen as consumers, stakeholders or customers because this is Liverpool Football Club, our Club.

 

And finally, don't forget, Tom and George You're Still Not, and never will be, Welcome Here.

 

 

Does this mean that Graham will now get a job and stop spending his days posting in SOS threads?

[Paco]

The Liverpool Supporters' Union, Spirit of Shankly have noted the developments overnight at Liverpool Football Club. Leaving aside the embarrassment of our Club's ownership and senior management playing out open warfare in public, supporters will be encouraged to see the ownership of Hicks and Gillett possibly coming to an end. However, we have been here before. In 2007. The identity and nationality of any owners of Liverpool Football Club is irrelevant. How they act as custodians is the most important thing and we have seen previously that initial announcements and promises made by new owners and the checks and due diligence made by those entrusted with that role on our behalf have all been left wanting. This must not happen again.

 

The supporters are not as naive as they were in 2007. For one, Spirit of Shankly is a vibrant and demanding representative organisation of its members and we will expect to see full details of how any purchase is to be financed and what difference any new owners will make in terms of recognising how supporters see the future of the Club. It is disappointing that none of the potential purchase groups are yet to engage with Spirit of Shankly and we would expect that to happen now before any sale is concluded so the issues most closely concerning supporters can be discussed. The supporters' concerns are how they propose to purchase the Club, how their business model is different to the current owners, their measurable ambitions for the Club, the investment they intend to make on the playing side, what their stadium solution is likely to be and also their attitude in relation to allowing supporters to invest and be represented within the Club.

 

Hicks and Gillett have not yet gone, and any excitement concerning new owners will be measured by how they recognise the current atmosphere and attitudes of supporters. New owners are not walking into a Club of supporters with open arms, there will be one gently outstretched hand of welcome while the other hand contains a list of questions that will need honest and open answers before any welcome becomes more warm.

 

New owners will have seen the strength of feeling and the actions taken by thousands upon thousands of supporters to get rid of the current owners. That strength needs to be respected and acknowledged, not through press conferences, photo opportunities and false promises - it needs to be acknowledged by any new owners making a sincere and permanent pact with the supporters that sees supporters inside the Club and integral to it, not seen as consumers, stakeholders or customers because this is Liverpool Football Club, our Club.

 

And finally, don't forget, Tom and George You're Still Not, and never will be, Welcome Here.

 

Spirit of Shankly - Ownership Developments – Spirit Of Shankly – Liverpool Supporters' Union

 

what's the plan then? wait until they finalise the takeover and then negotiate with them about fans owning a portion of the club and having a say on all matters Liverpool FC from here on in?

 

would broughton have discussed this with them at all?