By Football Talk.
Liverpool FC have officially been put up for sale by co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks. Barclays Capital is to advise Liverpool on the sale of the club and Martin Broughton has been appointed as a new chairman at Anfield.
A statement on Liverpool’s website read:
“Following numerous expressions of interest from third parties, the club has engaged Barclays Capital to advise on the sale process. The club has the full support of its existing bankers for this process and has financing in place which will fully support the club’s operations.
“Mr. Broughton, currently chairman of British Airways PLC and deputy president of the Confederation of British Industry, will work alongside the club’s existing management team of Managing Director Christian Purslow, Commercial Director Ian Ayre and Financial Director Philip Nash.”
Liverpool fans will be both relieved and excited by the news as they have made no secret of their disdain for the current owners.
Liverpool were bought for £217M in early 2007, and It’s believed that the owners want to double their money after putting a reported £500 price-tag on Liverpool.
Hicks and Gillett said in a statement:
“Owning Liverpool football club over these past three years has been a rewarding and exciting experience for us and our families.
“Having grown the club this far we have now decided together to look to sell the club to owners committed to take the club through its next level of growth and development.
“We are delighted that Martin Broughton has agreed to take the position of chairman, working alongside the club’s excellent senior management team.
“Martin is a distinguished business leader of excellent judgment and with a great reputation. He is a genuine football supporter and will seek to oversee the sales process in the best interests of the club and its supporters.”
New chairman Broughton said in a statement:
“I am excited and honoured to be taking up this position.
“Liverpool is a great club with a fantastic history. I will run this sale process in the right way, for the benefit of the club and its fans.
“Liverpool is one of the world’s greatest clubs and my aim is to try and ensure that we find new owners who are able to build on the club’s recent improved financial performance in order to help deliver sporting success.”
Is this the news Liverpool fans have been waiting to hear? Please leave your comments below…
FOR SALE: Liverpool FC
by Anfield Online | Friday 16th April 2010Liverpool’s owners have today brought in Chelsea supporter and British Airways boss Martin Broughton as the club’s Chairman and announced their intention to sell the football club.
After 3 years and 3 months of torrid ownership which has saw failure to start work on a new stadium and a failure to invest in the playing squad, Tom Hicks and George Gillett have brought in the new Chairman to try and help sell the club on.
Liverpool were bought for £217M in January 2007, and now have a £236M debt – which the Royal Bank of Scotland have ordered to be reduced by £100 this summer.
There have been suggestions that the owners are believed to want a staggering £500M for the club – over double what they paid. Their statement even suggests that he have made huge strides forward at the club.
