The U.K.’s High Court ruled Thursday in favor of those trying to sell Liverpool to New England Sports Ventures, owner of the Boston Red Sox. Liverpool’s current American owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, were strongly condemned for taking legal action in the U.S. to try and block the sale of the debt-ridden Premier League club.
The High Court decision looked to have cleared the way for Liverpool’s board of directors to sell the Reds to NESV for $480 million (£300m), possibly as early as Friday. But in a late twist tonight, it emerged that the American duo had instructed its legal team to return to the Texas court where they obtained a restraining order one day earlier in a further attempt to frustrate the deal.
Hicks and Gillett insist the iconic club, which they bought for £218.9 million in 2007, is being sold for way below its value, insisting the proposed figure is an “epic swindle.”
Thursday’s action kicked-off in central London’s High Court where Liverpool’s club directors and the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) tried for the second day running to secure the definitive legal ruling that would allow the club to be sold. Judge Christopher Floyd nullified the temporary restraining order — describing the Americans’ conduct as “unconscionable” — and gave the pair until 4pm Friday (local time) to comply with his orders.
Hicks and Gillett once more refused to go quietly, however, instructing their lawyers to return immediately to the 160th District Court in Dallas, where a hearing was adjourned until 7am Friday central time — 1pm in the U.K. — just three hours before Judge Floyd’s deadline.
Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton told reporters Thursday night he remained “hopeful” the sale of the club would go through Friday. Liverpool owes the RBS £280 million, but NESV has promised to wipe out its debts.
A statement issued by the club in the wake of Thursday’s High Court ruling read: “The Independent Directors of Liverpool Football Club are delighted with the verdict of Mr. Justice Floyd in the High Court this afternoon which now requires Mr. Hicks and Mr. Gillett to withdraw their Texas Restraining Order by 4pm tomorrow.
“We are glad to have taken another important step towards completing the sale process.”
Liverpool has won the top division of English football on 18 occasions, a record it shares with its fierce northwestern rival Manchester United. It has also been crowned European club champion on five occasions, making it one of the most successful teams in soccer history.Read more: http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Business/Liverpool-Sale-High-Court-Ruling-Backs-Liverpool-FC-Sale/Article/201010215757883
