Source: Daily_Mail
Liverpool face more years of boardroom strife as Tom Hicks nears refinancing package to stay on
The battle for control of Liverpool could drag on for a further two years after it emerged current co-owner Tom Hicks is close to agreeing a deal to keep hold of his current share.[LNB]The unpopular American will sign a refinancing agreement with The Blackstone/GSO Group worth £280million early next month. It ensure he has until 2012 to find a buyer for the debt-ridden club. [LNB]Any deal is also unlikely to include stipulations on transfer funds being made available, nor will it ensure relevant steps are made towards the previously promised new stadium. [LNB] Trouble and strife: Liverpool's uncertain future looks set to continue[LNB]According to reports in the News of the World, Hicks convened a three-hour board meeting in London on Wednesday where he informed other members of his plans. Co-owner George Gillet, though, was absent from the talks.[LNB]Given the frosty relationship between the American pair, unhappy board members hope Gillet may yet block the deal. However his position is seriously weakened by the fact he has defaulted on loan repayments to RBS. [LNB]The company Hicks plans to do business with, Blackstone, are a world-leading private equity firm - with chairman Steve Schwarzman, a personal friend of Hicks, worth an estimated £3billion.[LNB]He is confident he has the legal right to pursue the GSO deal in the absence of any formal bid for the club since the sale process began. [LNB]Hicks announced in April that he intended to cut his losses and get out of Anfield. An inflated asking price, though, has put any interested parties off. [LNB]Chinese businessman Kenny Huang and Syrian Yayha Kirdi were both heavily linked with a move for control of Liverpool over the summer but interest wained when they were asked to stump up in excess of £300m. [LNB] Man United 3 Liverpool 2: Berba's brilliant treble shatters Roy's boys at Old TraffordManchester United v Liverpool - All the action as it happenedHicks facing fight to keep control of Reds as Gillett prepares to walk awayHodgson admits he's in the dark over Liverpool transfer fundsLIVERPOOL FC
