Battle for Liverpool control goes to court

The battle for control of Liverpool went to court on Tuesday,with a bank trying to force through the sale of the Premier League club to the owners of the Boston Red Sox

The battle for control of Liverpool went to court on Tuesday,with a bank trying to force through the sale of the Premier League club to the owners of the Boston Red Sox over the objection of the current American owners. Royal Bank of Scotland,which holds the bulk of Liverpools debt,is seeking a court order preventing co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr. from removing two of the three rival board members supporting a 300 million-pound sale to the Boston group.

RBS has already been granted an interim injunction preventing chairman Martin Broughton or managing director Christian Purslow and commercial director Ian Ayre from being fired. The case was being heard in Londons High Court.

Broughton and Purslow were in the courtroom,while Hicks and Gillett were not. Hicks and Gillett claim the proposed sale to New England Sports Ventures,headed by financier John Henry,undervalues the club,but the group has already signed a binding takeover agreement with the three board members.

Also making a bid for the club is Singapore businessman Peter Lim. Everyone is hoping for the best, Henry said in a message to Liverpool fans on his Twitter account. There have been enough twists and turns. Hopefully all gets sorted out soon; LFC moves forward. RBS wants the sale to the Red Sox ownership group to proceed and has already held off from putting Liverpool into financial administration,a form of bankruptcy protection which would lead to the club being docked nine points.