Scarlets announce new investment from US company
Investment at times of uncertainty
The announcement comes as Wales' four professional sides aim to survive the threat of cutting the number of teams to three or even two.Ospreys have this week received planning permission from Swansea council to redevelop St Helen's.Cardiff are currently owned by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) after going into administration in April, while Dragons have been the least successful side since the inception of regional rugby in 2003. Scarlets say they will continue to work constructively with the WRU on the structural review but are "driven by the ambition to grow the club and safeguard its future.""Scarlets is a rugby club that has been at the forefront of Welsh rugby and an integral part of the community of west Wales for more than 150 years," said Scarlets chief executive Simon Muderack. "We are fiercely proud of what this club stands for and will continue to protect that legacy. "This partnership is the start of a new era for our club, strengthening our position with new investment, new ideas and a shared ambition to return the Scarlets to the top of European rugby."The new deal with HOL puts the Scarlets in control of its own future as we act boldly to move forward with a partner that will add significant resources and ambition. "Crucially, it enables a future where Scarlets will continue to play in Llanelli, retain Scarlets' strong identity and represent the whole of west Wales with pride."
Return of Moffett
Moffett heads HOL's sports and entertainment division, so the move will see his return to Welsh rugby.The 78-year-old was the WRU chief executive when the initial five regions were launched in 2003.HOL say they are an international luxury asset agency with a growing presence in global sport.They bill themselves as a US global luxury asset agency behind landmark sales in ultra-prime real estate, sport, automotive and rare collectibles with a dedicated sports and entertainments division.Scarlets and HOL say the new deal will bring: Immediate financial stability with House of Luxury assuming all current liabilitiesHOL strategic leadership and expertise to support commercial growth and helping shape future strategy during an unprecedented transition period for Welsh rugbyAdditional investment into fan experience, player pathways and global partnershipsLeadership in navigating legal, structural and competitive reform within Welsh rugbyA shared strategy and vision with the Scarlets board to build a long-term, high-performance culture on and off the pitch and continue the club's significant contribution to the local economy, society and culture throughout the west Wales region."This is one of the most storied rugby clubs in the world and we believe it should be competing and winning at the highest level," said Kirsti Jane, HOL chief executive."We're here to make that happen and help drive the Scarlets' future success and protect its unique identity and legacy."
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The Independent
3 minutes ago
- The Independent
The big questions that hang over Liverpool's forced ‘rebuild'
The big spender argued he isn't that big a net spender. The manager who added a £100m playmaker, a £69m striker and a pair of new full-backs still isn't sure if his squad is stronger than his Premier League -winning version. Arne Slot succeeded after a summer of inactivity in the market. Now, as Liverpool are setting records in the transfer window, the Dutchman is trying to place his expenditure into context and waiting to see how the class of 2025-26 compare to their immediate predecessors. Is this an upgrade? 'That is something I can only tell you on the first of September, because the window is still three weeks open,' said Slot. And if that contained the possibility of another attacking addition, such as Alexander Isak, Slot insisted that, in both his forward line and the centre of defence, he has ample options if no one else joins. Amid the hyperbole and frenzy of the cultural obsession with transfers, outgoings can be camouflaged by incomings, and Slot noted: 'We've also lost starters that have had a big impact on our title-winning season last year.' That, he feels, is not being talked about enough. Their replacements seem high-calibre players. Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez are the major recruits, while Giorgi Mamardashvili's move from Valencia was agreed last summer. Yet Slot counsels caution. A reason why he has yet to deliver his definitive verdict on whether this squad is better is because of the circumstances. Can Wirtz adapt from the Bundesliga to the greater intensity of the Premier League, he wonders? Can Kerkez, plucked from Bournemouth, cope with the greater workload? 'I cannot tell you now if these players are able to perform at the same level every three days,' said Slot. 'And I did know that Luis Diaz was able to do that. So, in terms of talent and the quality we've brought in, we see that we have a very good team again. But we have to wait and see; will they stay fit?' Diaz brought in some £65m when he joined Bayern Munich. Include Mamardashvili and various add-ons, and Liverpool's summer spending could already stand at around £300m. Yet when Darwin Nunez's move to Al Hilal goes through, they will have recouped around £190m. They made a profit from trading last summer. 'The net spend of us compared to the other teams is in our favour, if you look at the last two seasons,' said Slot; indeed, Liverpool's net spend is not the biggest this summer. And Slot is thinking about what he has lost as well as what he has gained, and not merely on the pitch. A sensitive man is quick to stress that Diogo Jota 's tragic death affects his wife, children and parents the most. 'I, we, his family, lost him,' he said. Among other things, Jota was a terrific forward and a Slot favourite. Liverpool will continue to mourn him and pay tribute. He leaves a void. 'Then Darwin might be on the verge of leaving,' added Slot. 'Luis Diaz was a definite starter, and Trent [Alexander-Arnold] was a definite starter. So normally in the Premier League, teams only buy, and never sell. We do both. Caoimhin Kelleher and Jarell Quansah played quite a lot of minutes, so that makes four regular starters and two players that played a lot [have left]. 'It's quite normal, if Trent is going to go, that we bring in a full-back. If Luis Diaz is going to go, that we bring in maybe Florian Wirtz, who can play as a [No] 10 and as a left winger. It's quite normal if one attacking option is not there with Diogo, that we bring in Hugo Ekitike. And don't forget that last season we only sold, we didn't buy.' Slot's experience may equip him for a rebuilding job. It was an annual task for him in the past. 'In Holland it's completely normal, because there are levels above Feyenoord or AZ Alkmaar where I worked before,' he explained. 'At a club like Liverpool, there's no level above, so it's not that common that players leave.' Indeed, the previous time a first-team regular left for a sizeable fee was when Fabinho joined Al-Ittihad for £40m in 2023. Then there were signs the Brazilian, like Jordan Henderson, was in decline. Not so with Diaz and Alexander-Arnold. 'We lost players in a good phase of their career,' said Slot. 'I'm used to that, and it sometimes gives new energy as well, because it was one of our strengths that we kept the team the same, because they were very used to each other.' Now there is a different dynamic. Liverpool are spending again, but, casting his eye across the division, Slot said so is everyone else. Many nonetheless expect them to retain their title. 'If we are only favourites because we've spent a bit, I would see that as weird, because we've lost a lot as well,' said Slot. But they have been bolstered by Wirtz and Ekitike, Frimpong and Kerkez. 'It's completely normal that we are one of the favourites, because we won it last season,' accepted Slot. 'And we brought in good players, like all the other ones did, by the way.'
Telegraph
3 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Arne Slot hits back at big-spending Liverpool jibes
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The Guardian
3 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Liverpool should be title favourites but not because of spending, says Slot
Arne Slot has conceded Liverpool can be considered favourites for the Premier League title but played down the impact of their spending and said a summer of upheaval had created some uncertainty over his team's prospects. The head coach accepts Liverpool will carry the mantle of favourites into the new campaign having won a 20th league championship by a comfortable margin last season. Liverpool, who face the FA Cup winners, Crystal Palace, in the Community Shield on Sunday, have since invested almost £300m on new talent and want to add the Newcastle striker Alexander Isak. No Premier League club has spent more than Liverpool but the champions will have recouped almost £200m should Darwin Núñez complete his move to Al-Hilal. The portrayal of Liverpool as lavish spenders, insists Slot, is misleading. 'The net spend of us compared to the other teams is not in our favour if you look at the last two seasons,' he said. 'It's completely normal that we are one of the favourites, because we won it last season. And we brought in good players. Like all the other teams did, by the way. This is what makes this league so nice. I think there's only been one exception [a team winning the league after a frugal summer] in the last two, three, four, five, six years, and that's Liverpool last season. 'Every team in the Premier League is spending money. So if we are only favourites because we've spent a bit, I would see that as weird because we've lost a lot as well. But that we are favourites because we won it last season and we played so well, that's clear. And the ambitions haven't changed, because the ambition of this club is always to compete for every trophy.' Slot believes it is premature to say Liverpool's squad represents an upgrade on last season and says the departures of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Díaz – as well as the tragic loss of Diogo Jota – cannot be ignored. 'The players we've brought in have done really well already, as expected,' he said. 'But I cannot tell you now if these players are able to perform at the same level every three days; we first have to start the season. And I did know Luis Díaz was able to do that, and all the other ones were able to do that. So that is another challenge in the Premier League, because we play so many games. 'For Milos Kerkez, it's going to be his first time at this level probably that he might have to play every three days. Florian Wirtz comes from the Bundesliga, where he was used to playing every three or four days, but we have to ask him in two months if the intensity levels of the Premier League are comparable with the Bundesliga. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion 'In terms of talent and the quality we've brought in, we see that we have a very good team again. But we have to wait and see. Will they stay fit? The ones that have left were almost fit for the whole season. Will all the ones that we brought in do the same? There are multiple factors you need to take into account. I am really happy with the players we've brought in but we've also lost starters that had a big impact on our title-winning season last year.'
