Liverpool owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have confirmed
that they are looking to sell the club after appointing British
Airways chief Martin Broughton as chairman on Friday.
Hicks and Gillett have been at the club since their 2007
takeover but have come under plenty of scrutiny throughout that
time, notably from fans disappointed by their apparent reluctance
to invest heavily in the squad. They also promised to move the club
into a brand new ground in Stanley Park as part of their purchase
three years ago, but a lack of funding meant the building work
never began.
With Rafael Benitez's side unlikely to qualify for the Champions
League next season, Hicks and Gillett have decided to officially
put the club up for sale, though the loss of potential revenue from
not participating in Europe's premier club competition could make
the club a less attractive proposition to potential buyers.
A statement on Liverpool's official website from Gillett and
Hicks read: "Owning Liverpool Football Club over these past three
years has been a rewarding and exciting experience for us and our
families.
"Having grown the Club this far we have now decided together to
look to sell the Club to owners committed to take the Club through
its next level of growth and development.
"We are delighted that Martin Broughton has agreed to take the
position of Chairman, working alongside the club's excellent senior
management team.
"Martin is a distinguished business leader of excellent judgment
and with a great reputation. He is a genuine football supporter and
will seek to oversee the sales process in the best interests of the
Club and its supporters."
Barclays Capital have been engaged by Liverpool to advise on the
sale process and Broughton, who is currently chairman of British
Airways PLC, will oversee the club's operation as the new chairman,
alongside existing managing director Christian Purslow.
"I am excited and honoured to be taking up this position.
Liverpool is a great club with a fantastic history," Broughton
said. "I will run this sale process in the right way, for the
benefit of the Club and its fans.
"Liverpool is one of the world's greatest clubs and my aim is to
try and ensure that we find new owners who are able to build on the
Club's recent improved financial performance in order to help
deliver sporting success."
Prospective buyers of the club - reported to be valued at around
£500 million by Hicks and Gillett - are expected to wait until the
end of the season to begin negotiations and it is thought that any
new owners will continue with plans to move to a new stadium.
Reds boss Rafa Benitez gave the news a typically guarded
welcome, and admitted he has yet to speak to Broughton to discuss
his ideas for the future.
"We have a new chairman and he is in charge of these issues,''
Benitez said. "At this moment, for me as a manager, I have to
concentrate on the West Ham game (on Monday). I think the club is
moving forward and that is positive. It is important for the club
to move forward. It could be good news.''