Liverpool's future looking more uncertain

LIVERPOOL’S FUTURE was thrust into further uncertainty last night as their prospective new owners said they would walk away if the club is forced into administration by the Royal Bank of Scotland and docked nine points by the Premier League.

New England Sports Ventures, who last week had a €342m deal provisionally accepted by the Liverpool chairman, Martin Broughton, are understood to be seriously concerned at the extent to which the ground has shifted beneath their feet. Sources close to the negotiations last night indicated the position of John W Henry and the rest of the NESV board has hardened further since Saturday, when the Guardian revealed they may walk away. The news will dismay Liverpool fans, who hoped the ownership of Tom Hicks and George Gillett was nearing an end. RBS are seriously considering administration if a €270m loan to the club is not refinanced by Friday, after their legal advisers warned they could leave itself open to a challenge if they do not do so.

This week’s high court case, in which Broughton will attempt to force through the sale against the wishes of Hicks and Gillett, is crucial. If the court sanctions the sale it will leave Hicks and Gillett with a €164m loss and the sale to NESV will proceed. But if Hicks appeals, as he is almost certain to do, it could extend the legal wrangle beyond October 15th and leave RBS in a difficult position.

NESV are also believed to be unsettled by the fact that an unnamed Asian investor remains in the background, but it hopes the court case and any appeal can be heard before Friday.

Liverpool’s managing director, Christian Purslow, yesterday appealed again for Hicks and Gillett to walk away. “Right now, they do have an opportunity . . . to allow a sale to complete and that would clear the club of all the acquisition debt and give us a massive lift before Sunday’s Everton game,” he told the BBC. “That’s in their gift and it would enable them to leave with some peace rather than precipitating a messy dispute. I hope they’ll think about that.”

Guardian Service