Owen, Gerrard might be offered stakes

Thailand will offer Liverpool stars Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard a substantial shareholding in the team if it succeeds in its bid to buy a 30 per cent stake, according to a news report. The private Radio Today quoted Thailand’s chief negotiator Pongsak Raktapongpaisarn as saying that striker Owen and midfielder Gerrard would be given a combined 11 per cent control of a Thai company that would buy the Liverpool stake. The Sports Authority of Thailand would hold 49 per cent of the company and the rest would be offered to the public, Radio Today’s owner and commentator Danai Ekmahasawadhi said. ‘‘We do not know whether Owen and Gerrard will have to buy the share from their pockets or be given it for free,’’ Danai said.