Source: Liverpool_Echo
Liverpool FC to be sold today barring Texas courtroom ruling
Martin Broughton 300[LNB]A TEXAS judge is crucial to the £300m sale of Liverpool FC to New England Sports Ventures today. Ian Hernon and Luke Traynor report on extraordinary court battles in Dallas and London[LNB]LIVERPOOL Football Club will be sold to New England Sports Ventures today - barring any last ditch hitches in a Texas courtroom.[LNB]Lawyers for the Reds, main creditor Royal Bank of Scotland and Boston's NESV were gathering at 7am (1pm UK) at the 160th District Court in Dallas to seek the removal of a restraining order obtained by the current owners on Wednesday night.[LNB]If Judge Jim Jordan is persuaded to overturn the order he granted Tom Hicks and George Gillett, the agreed sale of the Reds to NESV should proceed.[LNB]After a second damning verdict in London's High Court yesterday, lawyers for co-owner Tom Hicks immediately went back to the Dallas court last night for another hearing with Judge Jordan but it adjourned without resolution until today.[LNB]The early start in Texas today is because of the 4pm deadline (UK time) High Court judge Christopher Floyd gave the Americans to remove their restraining order in his decision against Hicks and Gillett in London yesterday.[LNB]Liverpool remain hopeful the £300m sale to NESV, whose head is Boston Red Sox baseball franchise owner John W Henry, will go through, with both chairman Martin Broughton and managing director Christian Purslow speaking positively.[LNB]John Henry also tweeted this morning.[LNB] .bbpBox27416311007 {background:url(http://a3.twimg.com/profile_background_images/14904117/fenzonepic.png) #1A1B1F;padding:20px;} p.bbpTweet{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 10px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px !important;line-height:22px;-moz-border-radius:5px;-webkit-border-radius:5px} p.bbpTweet span.metadata{display:block;width:100%;clear:both;margin-top:8px;padding-top:12px;height:40px;border-top:1px solid #fff;border-top:1px solid #e6e6e6} p.bbpTweet span.metadata span.author{line-height:19px} p.bbpTweet span.metadata span.author img{float:left;margin:0 7px 0 0px;width:38px;height:38px} p.bbpTweet a:hover{text-decoration:underline}p.bbpTweet span.timestamp{font-size:12px;display:block} We have a binding contract. Will fight Mill Hicks Gillett attempt to keep club today. Their last desperate attempt to entrench their regime.less than a minute ago via webJohn W. HenryJohn_W_Henry[LNB] Mr Broughton said he hoped to have a deal in place for Henry to attend Sunday's Merseyside derby at Goodison Park as LFC's new owner.[LNB]He said: 'We're nearly there. We've still got to take away the restraining order. Mr Henry is very committed.[LNB]'My guess is we'll have it done and he'll be there - but we've got to get rid of this order first.'
