The businessman faced the Prime Minister in the battle to own Liverpool, but £ 73 million was not enough.

For David Moores, it was a decision made with the heaviest heart.

But when Liverpool’s majority shareholder made it clear that it was time to sell, it was flooded with interest from all corners of the world.

It was not difficult to see why.

Despite not having won a league title for almost 15 years, the name of Liverpool Football Club still resonated across the planet as one of the most famous sports institutions.

A sleeping giant of the game; Liverpool FC, at least for a foreign investor, was seen as a diamond in the rough.

One of the most loyal and best-supported fan bases in the sport with a team that still kept in touch with its rivals on the field, a relatively modest purchase was a potential gold mine.

Moores reluctantly accepted that more capital was needed to compete at the top of an English game that was becoming increasingly fierce.

Transfer fees began to spiral to levels never seen before as a matter of routine in the Premier League with Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal, all looting large sums for big names.

In late 2004, The Liverpool club record signing was a label that still belonged to Emile Heskey, who had joined the turn of the Millennium for £ 11 million.

At the time, players like Juan Sebastián Verón (£ 28 million), Ruud van Nistelrooy (£ 19 million), Rio Ferdinand (£ 30 million) and Cristiano Ronaldo (£ 12 million) signed for Manchester United.

Arsenal was also a big spender, with Sylvain Wiltord, Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Juan Antonio Reyes coming together for more than the record fee at Anfield.

Chelsea’s fortune was transformed almost overnight after the takeover of billionaire Roman Abramovich and Moores felt that he was increasingly marginalized in his position.

Liverpool, of course, was hardly a pauper in the rich man’s game, but Moores knew a change would be necessary. Anfield needed to expand and the club did not compete at the upper end of the market.

He had taken them as far as he could and the search for a buyer started sometime in early 2004. It wasn’t long before investors emerged, from all areas.

First of all, from Thailand. Thaksin Shinawatra saw the LFC brand as a way to redefine the perceived culture of his homeland and his reputation in other nations.

In May 2004, Shinawatra’s chief negotiator on the deal, Pongsak Ruktapongpisal, said: “In Thailand there are many Liverpool fans, probably close to a million.”

“So when we join Liverpool, it will alert many people to exercise and sport.”

“It will guide them in a better direction and protect them from drugs, especially people living in remote areas in remote areas who may have nothing to do.”

“It’s good for them to play sports, so we chose one of the most famous teams to be our brand.”

The Thai Prime Minister made an offer of £ 60 million for 30 percent of the shares.

“If we agree with what Liverpool proposed, the agreement could be done quickly,” Shinawatra said. “But we don’t do it the way we want to be followed. Our ratio of directors to the board should be high.”

It was learned that the deal would be funded by the state through a unique lottery in Thailand. It was planned to raise a sum of £ 140 million, as Shinawatra promised that taxpayers’ money would not be used to buy a stake in the Reds.

However, Shinawatra’s plans did not stop at Anfield.

Impressed by the glitz and glamor that accompanied England’s premier football in 2004, and his growing celebrity culture, the then-55-year-old wanted to participate in a segment, but could cut it short.

“At the end of June, we will have a stake in a Premier League club,” he said in May 2004, blatantly dismissing his strong interest in Liverpool at the time.

“The prime minister is targeting Liverpool, but has a high regard for all Premier teams. He would not mind a single Premier team at all. Ultimately, I must say any team will be fine,” added his spokesman, Jakrapob. Penkair.

They claimed that a delegation arrived in Merseyside in late May 2004 and was even considering opening discussions with Everton. However, Shinawatra’s grand plan for Anfield would fail.

He canceled the lottery plans and was made to rethink his strategy to raise the required capital.

At about the same time, polls in Thailand saw Shinawatra’s popularity drop by about 20 percent. With a general election within 12 months, the Thai Prime Minister permanently withdrew.

Ultimately, Shinawatra’s naked desire to own a club, any club, in the Premier League has likely been enormously unpleasant for Moores and the rest of the Liverpool boardroom.

Shinawatra would eventually deliver on his promise of owning a top-notch club when he took over Manchester City in June 2007.

Running alongside the Shinawatra plane was a gamble from much closer to home in the form of Garston-born Steve Morgan.

The owner of Redrow Homes saw a £ 73 million offer rejected as “unappealing” in May 2004.

In March of that year, Moores rejected an opening £ 50 million gambit at Anfield.

“I have spoken to many fans since the story came out yesterday,” said Liverpool Football Club Supporters Club president Richard Pedder.

“The general opinion is that anyone who brings £ 50 million to the club is very welcome. All fans will be watching with interest to see what will come of this alleged offer.”

Moores, along with then-CEO Rick Parry, was in no rush to greenlight any next step, and after talks with advisory firm Hawkstone, Morgan’s attempt to inject £ 50 million into the club was rejected.

He then proposed that £ 61 million be raised through a rights issue and another £ 12 million arising from a separate issue of shares to fans when he presented the £ 73 million later that year.

“The board’s response does not seem to make sense,” said a statement by Morgan’s representatives at the time. “Mr Morgan’s proposal is to underwrite the £ 73 million investment in LFC, not to buy the club.

“What matters to Liverpool Football Club is how much money they have available, as soon as possible, to strengthen their team and finance the stadium.”

After rejecting the significantly restructured offer, Morgan’s representatives revealed that the local businessman was “reluctantly withdrawing” his interest.

Liverpool’s third-largest shareholder had accepted defeat in his attempts to loot more capital at the club. His designs to increase his influence at Anfield fell short.

“I would like to thank the thousands of fans who supported the offer and my family who have fully supported me,” said Morgan.

“I remain fully committed to Liverpool Football Club and would implore the board to bring all the uncertainty surrounding both the club and the manager (Gerard Houllier) to a swift conclusion.”

However, the offer remained on the table for Moores, as the construction mogul implored him to grab it with both hands and give Liverpool FC what he believed would be a brighter future.

“I am here with an offer and they can have money in the bank for Christmas,” Morgan said shortly after seeing the Rafa Benitez reds qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League in December 2004.

“Rafael Benítez may have funds and there will be financing to build a new stadium. Please accept my offer.”

After the proposal was silently received from inside the Anfield boardroom, it was decisively withdrawn. This time for good.

“Steve finally lost patience with the Liverpool council using his offer as a temporary resource as they tour the world looking for a better one,” attorney Vincent Fairclough said in a statement.

“He is no longer prepared to be used as a stalking horse. Although Mr Morgan’s previous offers were to invest £ 70m directly into the club, this was not acceptable to the President.”

“Steve has had enough. He has other things to do with his life.”

It would be another two years before Moores finally sold “family silver” to Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

* Stay tuned for the second part exploring the interest of Dubai International Capital and the eventual sale to Hicks and Gillett