What the papers say

The Sunday papers , whilst reporting gloomily on yesterday's draw at Middlesbrough, also have conflicting stories about the future of George Gillett and Tom Hick's ownership of the club.

The Observer says that the American duo could be bought out by Dubai International Capital, the Arab investment group we shunned for Statler and Waldorf last year. The paper suggests there may be a £500m offer on the table that would provide Hicks and Gillett with a hefty walk-away fee and money for the club to invest in the stadium and the team...hmm haven't we heard that before? This report follows a few notable rumours of Hicks and Gillett seriously struggling in their repayments to the Royal Bank of Scotland whom they used a loan from to buy the club last February and to fund our summer spending.

But there's a more positive story, for Gillett and Hicks at least, in The Sunday Times which says that they are close to striking a loan deal with the banks to allow work on the new stadium to proceed. Jonathan Northcroft adds that despite all the speculation, Hicks and Gillett are not keen on cutting their losses despite the speculation to the contrary.

The bottom line to me seems that there is going to be more debt, and debt in whatever situation is never good. I'm rubbish at financial stuff but I know that much at least. It's all a far cry from the positive picture we were given when G & H, as they are now simply known, tookover last year. Money for stadium, money for players, money for all they said. No mention given to loan or debts or indeed the fact loans would be needed just to even buy a few players.

What is likely to be our sole acquisition this January is defender Martin Skrtel for around £6.5m. I wonder where this money has come from? It's quite a hefty fee for a central defender, the most we've ever paid in fact. Is there more of it or is that all Rafa will get? I suspect the latter.

Skrtel is a much needed addition but when the deficiences of the team going forward have become increasingly obvious in recent weeks it doesn't offer much optimism for the months ahead that we are unlikely to add anybody else to the squad.

And in the meantime the uncertainty off the field will go on...