Reds won't rush takeover decision - Purslow

15 August 2010 11:05
Christian Purslow admits Liverpool need to find new owners "as soon as possible" - but will not make any hasty decisions on their future.[LNB] The Reds are still under the ownership Tom Hicks and George Gillett, but chairman Martin Broughton is on a mission to find the Americans' successors.[LNB]And Reds managing director Purslow on Sunday morning made it clear the timescale to identify the new owners is relatively short, with stability required and a new season already under way.[LNB]"We have had a number of bids for the club. We will take time to examine those extremely carefully," he told BBC Radio 5 Live's Sportsweek programme.[LNB]"Second to that is [the need] to sell the club as soon as possible."[LNB]Purslow insists nonetheless the right buyer - Chinese businessman Kenny Huang and Canadian-based Syrian Yahya Kirdi are reportedly among the interested parties - is much more important than the quickest one.[LNB]"We will make sure we take our time," he continued.[LNB]"I am not going to put a time limit on it. The challenge now is to sort the wheat from the chaff.[LNB]"I would not expect it to be a lifetime - but I would not expect it to be tomorrow either.[LNB]"We have just received some written bids at this stage, and it would be wrong to to characterise anybody as a front-runner."[LNB]Liverpool, only seventh in the Barclays Premier League last season, are in urgent need of a much more successful campaign under new manager Roy Hodgson.[LNB]They have managed to retain the services of stalwart midfielder and captain Steven Gerrard and striker Fernando Torres, as well as signing Joe Cole from Chelsea. But Purslow accepts there will be some departures too, with Argentinian Javier Mascherano among the most likely.[LNB]"The target is significant improvement. We think our club and players belong in the Champions League - so that is where we would like to be," he said.[LNB]"I think there will be one or two more ins and outs. There are a few people who will move on.[LNB]"Javier has been wanting to go for personal reasons.[LNB]"We have not had any offers for him, and the manager is very happy with him. But it is true he is looking for a move."

Source: Team_Talk