[Mighty T.A.L.]

I should have done deal for Liverpool - admits Morgan

Steve Morgan, Liverpool's third-largest shareholder, admits that he should have bought the club when he had the chance.

Morgan, who made his millions in the building and hotel industries, is about to lose the prize he has wanted for years to the Dubai International Capital group, who are currently engaged in due diligence ahead of an expected £450million bid for the club.

Two years ago, Morgan reached a provisional agreement with chairman David Moores, before backing out of the deal after his own due diligence had revealed the full extent of the costs for a new stadium.

Morgan wanted to re-negotiate the share price with Moores, offering less per share, and the deal collapsed, much to his regret now.

He said: "My bid waspre-Istanbul, pre-Rafa Benitez settling into the club and pre-the Sky TV deal.

"If I'd had a crystal ball and seen all these things in advance then maybe I should have done the deal at the time.

"Hindsight is a wonderful thing."

Morgan's dream has been ended with the club about to be taken over by DIC, the investment arm of the Dubai government, representing the ruling Maktoum family.

And Morgan believes that the deal now on the table will go through and be operational by the end of January.

He said: "It seems that they are well on now with their due diligence, from what I hear I do not see any reason why it should not go through. Probably sometime in mid to late January. That seems to be well on target."

And that would end Morgan's own shareholding, because DIC are aiming at a 100% takeover, which will force every shareholder to eventually sell to them.

Source: http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk