http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N147645050127-1005.htm

By PETER MALLETT
From Wednesday's Globe and Mail

Toronto — After only two summer's of operation soccer's ChampionsWorld Tour which brought several of Europe's most famous teams to North America announced Tuesday it has applied for bankruptcy protection.

ChampionsWorld LCC executive president Charlie Stillitano told the Globe and Mail the New Jersey based company plans to return to Toronto next summer after setting an attendance record at SkyDome; But its first order of business is to cover debts incurred last season and then try to attract new investors.

"The only thing I can say right now is that we are going to stay in business for the soccer fans," Stillitano said. "Today's announcement is disappointing but I feel there is light at the end of the tunnel."

Stillitano cited the huge costs associated with running the tour as part of the company's financial problems. He said it cost over $30-million (U.S.) to stage last year's nine team, 11-game North American tour.

Some of the enormous expenses incurred happened when ChampionsWorld announced it was converting SkyDome's artificial playing surface to natural grass for two games last July. The move caught the attention of Toronto's usually aloof soccer fans and also helped set an attendance record for a single game in Toronto.

A Friday night contest between Portuguese side FC Porto and Liverpool attracted 40,078 fans and a record-setting crowd of 50,435 attended a match the following night between Scotland's Glasgow Celtic and Italy's AS Roma.

Stillitano acknowledged that a sizable portion of an 8 per cent gate levy from the games is still owed to the Canadian Soccer Association and CSA chief operating officer Kevin Pipe said that he has confidence that ChampionsWorld will honour their debt. A high ranking CSA official, who chose to remain anonymous, told the Globe and Mail that $250,000 is owed to soccer's governing body. Pipe refused to acknowledge any exact figures.

"We are working towards fulfilling their account with us and there is a desire by them to pay the remaining amount," said Pipe.

There was reason for optimism about the ChampionsWorld's returning in 2005 until Tuesday's bankruptcy protection announcement. The entertainment and sports promotion company which got its start at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. by promoting an Italian Super Cup game in 1993, recently obtained the North American licensing rights for the highly successful Manchester United supporters club which also led to speculation that its finances could only improve.

The Toronto Supporters Club is hosting a "Meet & Greet" tonight, Jan. 21st, 7pm -9pm(ish) at Scallywags

The evening is sponsored by both Carlsberg Canada & Scallywags - lots of great giveaways!

Here's an updated list of who will be in Toronto:

Robert Bolder
Ronald Whelan
Gary Gillespie
John Wark
Philip Neal
Michael Thomas
Mark Walters
John Durnin
Paul Walsh
Jan Molby
Steve Hodge (Spurs)

*players appearance subject to change and availability.

Look forward to seeing you all.

Cheers,
Andy Cashin

The Official Liverpool FC Supporters Club, Toronto, Canada will, for
the rest of the 2004-2005 Season, meet at Scallywags.

Scallywags
11 St.Clair Avenue West
Toronto, ON
M4V 1K6
Tel: 416-922-3737
Email: scallywags@scallywags.net
www.scallywags.net

The Executive of the Official Supporters Club made this decision based on reliability. The Duke of Gloucester, unfortunately, was unreliable with its broadcast of available Liverpool games.

The Executive feel that the general membership is owed the promise and comfort of a venue that will reliably show available Liverpool games, on time and in full.

The Executive will negotiate a deal with Scallywags owner Jeff May to keep us there, as our Official home, for the rest of the current
season. At the end of the season, we will review the location with the membership. Any long term arrangement will be presented to the general membership for ratification at the Annual General Meeting.

We encourage all our members to show their support of Scallywags.

If you have any questions, please contact to a member of the Toronto Executive.

Andrew Cashin
Chairman
www.lfctoronto.com