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Tuesday, 6 February 2007, 16:46 GMT

Lawro & Hansen on takeover deal

By Mark Lawrenson
BBC Sport football expert



" I think this is good news.

It all comes under the banner of progress. Liverpool are getting a new stadium, new investment, with the potential for 60,000 people in the new stadium.

Liverpool have to keep up with the likes of Man Utd, who get 76,000 fans for their home games, and with Chelsea and, of course, with Arsenal who have just moved to their new stadium.

For Liverpool to continue in the top four in this country I think it's a necessity for the club to be sold.

Anfield The only concern about foreign investors is whether they've got the club at heart.

Fans don't want them to come along and, in five years time, look to sell on.

But Liverpool chairman David Moores has always been of the opinion that it has to be best for the football club. He'd never sell the football club short.

I don't think fans will be particularly bothered who owns the football club as long as they keep it as their football club.

The thing with fans is they just want a successful football team and if that means a foreign owner, it means a foreign owner.

I think the future is bright for Liverpool.

They're about to go to a brand new ground with 60,000 fans, I think there's investment and arguably better use of the brand name - and they are a worldwide brand.

This will help the manager Rafael Benitez buy even better players and help keep them up with Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea and the teams in the Champions League - if not overtake them. "

By Alan Hansen
BBC Sport football expert



" The priorities do not change. Get a new stadium to help compete with Manchester United's revenue and Roman Abramovich's money and provide funds for new players.

Regardless of who takes over, all fans want is money for the new stadium and players.

David Moores has been a great chairman. He has given a succession of managers time and money which is the sign of a great chairman.

He feels he cannot take it any further because he cannot finance a new stadium so let's go with his judgement.

There was scepticism about Americans taking over at Manchester United when the Glazers came in, but I can't hear any of that stuff going on now.

There was huge discontent and the breakaway at Manchester United, but I don't hear anything about that now because the club's at the top of the Premiership and everyone's happy about that.

Fans are only interested in who owns a club up to a certain extent. At the end of the day 90% are only interested in what happens on the pitch. "




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Related to this story:

US pair agree Liverpool takeover (06 Feb 07 |  Liverpool )
Anfield of dreams (02 Feb 07 |  Liverpool )
Liverpool takeover: fans' reaction (06 Feb 07 |  Football )
US business duo at Liverpool helm (06 Feb 07 |  Business )
Football takeover trends (06 Feb 07 |  Premiership )
Parry explains takeover collapse (01 Feb 07 |  Liverpool )
Consortium pulls out of Reds bid (31 Jan 07 |  Liverpool )
Liverpool stall on takeover bid (31 Jan 07 |  Liverpool )
Liverpool takeover concerns eased (28 Dec 06 |  Liverpool )
Reds revel in £450m takeover talk (04 Dec 06 |  Liverpool )

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