Newz Forum: SOCCER: Liverpool's Morgan in counter bid

Millionaire Liverpool fan Steve Morgan wants to plough 73m into the club - in a bid to prevent Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra buying a 30% stake.

And in a direct attack on the current board who are negotiating a deal which would involved merchandising rights being handled by Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, Morgan demands the club should retain those rights for Liverpool only.

And Morgan, the former boss of the Redrow housing group and Liverpool's third largest shareholder, has challenged the club to sell to a genuine fan "and the people who love the club most."

It is a direct challenge to chairman David Moores not to become involved with Thaksin, who has had his human rights record openly criticised by opponents of his move to buy into the Anfield giants.

Morgan, who worked his way up from being a bricklayer to owning one of the UK's biggest house-building giants, has already had one rights issue deal rejected this year by Moores and his board for around 50million.

Now he has dramatically upped his offer as chief executive Rick Parry returns to Liverpool with proposals from the Thai PM to be considered by a board meeting later this week.


Story BBC Sport

[Edited on 11/5/04 by TRD]

Steve Morgan admitted he was baffled at Liverpool's decision to reject his proposal to inject 73m into the club.

But the self-made property magnate refused to reveal what his next move might be, if any.

The Liverpool directors claimed Morgan's plan was "unattractive" and didn't represent the true value of the club.