Liverpool FC Supporters Union 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 including Amazon chief Jeff Bezos.
On Monday, it was reported 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, with sources close to the club claiming a buy-in valuing the club at around £6m could be finalised as soon as this week.
Bezos is listed by Forbes as the third richest man in the world, although despite his indisputable wealth he has no prior experience of running a football club, or apparent previous love of the game (or the club).
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Now, the supporters group has confirmed via its own website that it has written to the club asking several key questions:
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
SoS’ statement continued:
“We also asked for a meeting and reiterated that, given the events that led to FSG’s purchase of the club, who owns it and how they control it – putting the interests of LFC and its supporters first – is fundamental to us all.
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.
The club responded by saying that if anything became more formalised, they would be willing to meet with the Supporters Board. As yet, we have no further information but will keep members informed.”
SoS was founded in January 2008, when 350 Liverpool supporters angry at perceived broken promises from Hicks and Gillett, and fearing for LFC’s future under their ownership, gathered in The Sandon, the public house metres from Anfield where John Houlding formed Liverpool Football Club in 1892.
Today, it is a registered Industrial and Provident Society registered with the Financial Services Authority, with a legal constitution and a democratically elected management committee, elected by members. It seeks to “represent the best interests of our members and by extension the best interests of the supporters of Liverpool Football Club on both the local and international level” and “to hold whoever owns the football club to account.”
