Reds Board To Discuss Bids

Martin Broughton has revealed that the Liverpool board will meet to discuss all bids for the club on Wednesday evening.

The Reds chairman was speaking as he left the High Court following a ruling which has paved the way for a takeover of the club to be put in place.

Current co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks had hoped to block a move for control at Anfield, with the offers on the table falling short of their valuation.

However, with the club's creditors, the Royal Bank of Scotland, looking to recoup a £237million loan by a deadline set for 15th October, Mr. Justice Floyd has sided in favour of Liverpool and RBS.

Discussions with interested parties can now begin in earnest, with the Reds keen to get new owners in place as soon as possible, allowing them to clear their debts and focus their attention on matters on the field.

It was believed that a £300million bid from John W Henry's New England Sports Ventures was the preferred choice of the Liverpool board, with that offer having already been accepted.

However, a rival bid from Singapore billionaire Peter Lim has left the Reds facing a quandary.

Lim has promised £320m in cash and a £40m transfer kitty for the January transfer window.

Chairman Broughton has confirmed that there is no guarantee that NESV will be successful in their efforts, with the Liverpool board yet to sit down and discuss the latest developments.

"The board will be properly reconstituted by eight o'clock this evening, that was the judge's order, and proceed with the sale process," he told Sky Sports News.

"This will clear the way for a sale, but I'm not going to prejudge the board meeting. It would be inappropriate to prejudge what the board is going to say.

"But the club's going to have a great future. We will re-establish the right basis for the club.

"The acquisition debt that has been plaguing us will be gone, we have a great future. We will get the right owners for the fans."

While keen to steer clear of takeover talk for now, Broughton is delighted with Wednesday's ruling which has given the board power to negotiate a sale.

He said: "It was an excellent outcome. We have been confident all along. We think we have done the right thing. When you go to court, though, you can never pre-judge it."

Broughton admits he is disappointed that Gillett and Hicks felt the need to take proceedings as far as they did, but is pleased that progress can now be made.

He added: "I am disappointed that they have acted in this way, to try and breach the undertakings they gave me. But up until then they have supported the process."