Liverpool Football Club put up for sale by American owners
Tom Hicks and George Gillett have put Liverpool up for sale
Friday, 16, Apr 2010 05:58
By Richard James.
Liverpool's American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have put the Premier League club up for sale and appointed a new chairman.
A statement released by the club on Friday said Martin Broughton would takeover as chairman with immediate effect and begin overseeing selling the club.
Barclays Capital has also been brought on board to advice on the sale process.
Hicks and Gillett said in the 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."
Liverpool fans have become increasingly frustrated with the American pair due to the financial uncertainty at the club and its £237 million debt.
The unrest has also seen manager Rafael Benitez publicly express his disappointment at the transfer budget at his disposal and the stalled plans for a new stadium.
Broughton, currently also the chairman of British Airways PLC, said he was "excited and honoured" to be taking up the position.
He added: "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."
As well as the unrest off the pitch, Liverpool have suffered a disappointing season so far after being knocked out in the group stages of the Champions League and failing to mount a significant challenge for any of the domestic trophies.
Liverpool fans are still hopefully of winning some silverware this year, however, and face Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their semi-final of the Europa League next Thursday.