Source: Telegraph
Liverpool takeover: the battle for Anfield
Tom Hicks [LNB]The American must hope that Mr Justice Floyd finds in his favour, deciding that undertakings submitted to RBS did not give chairman Martin Broughton the right to sell the club against the shareholders' wishes. That would halt the sale process, depending on an appeal. Hicks would still need to find a way of either paying down Liverpool's £282 million debt, due on Friday, or persuading RBS to grant him more time to find a buyer without placing the club into administration. [LNB]Liverpool takeover: debt dispute at heart of Broughtons court battle with Hicks and GillettNew England Sports Ventures [LNB]If RBS are successful in court, Liverpool may not need a separate hearing to prove that undertakings submitted by Hicks and his partner, George Gillett, were legally binding. Even if they were to bring their own case, this week's judgment is key to allowing the £300 million sale to NESV to proceed as planned. If Hicks wins, NESV must hope RBS put the club into administration. Though they have suggested they may pull out in that event, it is likely that message is simply part of a negotiating strategy. [LNB]Peter Lim [LNB]The Singaporean remains an outsider. Lim would gain control of Liverpool only if Hicks loses in court and RBS put the club into administration effectively opening a bidding war or NESV choose to pull out. NESV's agreement is legally binding, so a higher bid cannot be accepted by the board. Alternatively, he could offer Hicks the funds needed to pay down the debt in the next four days, taking control through the back door. [LNB]
