http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/9091246.stm
High Court rejects attempts to block sale of Liverpool
Liverpool's American owners suffered a further setback after a High Court judge ruled their injunction to block the sale of the club was ineffective.
The ruling paves the way for the club to be sold to New England Sports Ventures (NESV) for £300m with a deal possibly to be agreed on Thursday.
On Wednesday Reds' owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett took out an injunction in Texas to block any proposed sale.
But Judge Christopher Floyd said that ruling had no validity in England.
The latest development comes after Hicks and Gillett's reign at Anfield had looked close to ending on Wednesday.
Their attempt to block the proposed sale of the club to NESV was dismissed by the High Court, despite that prospect having the backing of other directors including chairman Martin Broughton, managing director Christian Purslow and commercial director Ian Ayre.
But that ruling led the American owners to take out a temporary restraining order in a Dallas court, halting any planned sale.
On Thursday, Mr Justice Floyd again came down in favour of the club by granting an anti-suit injunction and criticising Hicks and Gillett's conduct, calling it "unconscionable" and adding that "this case has no real connection to Texas."
Yet even despite the second judgement of the High Court, the much-criticised owners requested a further hearing in Texas on Thursday.
Mr Justice Floyd has given Hicks and Gillett until 1600 BST on Friday to withdraw their legal action in America, or face charges of contempt of court.
That deadline would allow the sale of the club to go through, which is essential if the club are to avoid defaulting on the repayment of £240m of loans due to Royal Bank of Scotland on Friday.
If that payment is not made the club could be placed into administration and suffer a nine-point penalty.
A statement issued on behalf of the Liverpool board said they were "delighted with the verdict of Mr. Justice Floyd in the High Court this afternoon which now requires Mr Hicks and Mr Gillett to withdraw their Texas Restraining Order by 1600 BST on Friday.
"We are glad to have taken another important step towards completing the sale process."
On Thursday evening the financier of NESV John Henry was seen entering the offices of Liverpool's solicitors Slaughter and May, and gave a thumbs-up gesture to cameramen outside.
During Thursday afternoon's hearing, David Chivers QC, representing NESV, said his clients already considered themselves to be Liverpool's new owners.
"The owners from beyond the grave are seeking to exercise with their dead hand a continuing grip on this company," he said.
Earlier, on a second day of huge developments, Singaporean businessman Peter Lim, withdrew his £320m bid.
He said: "The [Liverpool] board is intent on selling the club to NESV to the exclusion of all other parties, regardless of the merits of their bids."
High Court rejects attempts to block sale of Liverpool
Liverpool's American owners suffered a further setback after a High Court judge ruled their injunction to block the sale of the club was ineffective.
The ruling paves the way for the club to be sold to New England Sports Ventures (NESV) for £300m with a deal possibly to be agreed on Thursday.
On Wednesday Reds' owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett took out an injunction in Texas to block any proposed sale.
But Judge Christopher Floyd said that ruling had no validity in England.
The latest development comes after Hicks and Gillett's reign at Anfield had looked close to ending on Wednesday.
Their attempt to block the proposed sale of the club to NESV was dismissed by the High Court, despite that prospect having the backing of other directors including chairman Martin Broughton, managing director Christian Purslow and commercial director Ian Ayre.
But that ruling led the American owners to take out a temporary restraining order in a Dallas court, halting any planned sale.
On Thursday, Mr Justice Floyd again came down in favour of the club by granting an anti-suit injunction and criticising Hicks and Gillett's conduct, calling it "unconscionable" and adding that "this case has no real connection to Texas."
Yet even despite the second judgement of the High Court, the much-criticised owners requested a further hearing in Texas on Thursday.
Mr Justice Floyd has given Hicks and Gillett until 1600 BST on Friday to withdraw their legal action in America, or face charges of contempt of court.
That deadline would allow the sale of the club to go through, which is essential if the club are to avoid defaulting on the repayment of £240m of loans due to Royal Bank of Scotland on Friday.
If that payment is not made the club could be placed into administration and suffer a nine-point penalty.
A statement issued on behalf of the Liverpool board said they were "delighted with the verdict of Mr. Justice Floyd in the High Court this afternoon which now requires Mr Hicks and Mr Gillett to withdraw their Texas Restraining Order by 1600 BST on Friday.
"We are glad to have taken another important step towards completing the sale process."
On Thursday evening the financier of NESV John Henry was seen entering the offices of Liverpool's solicitors Slaughter and May, and gave a thumbs-up gesture to cameramen outside.
During Thursday afternoon's hearing, David Chivers QC, representing NESV, said his clients already considered themselves to be Liverpool's new owners.
"The owners from beyond the grave are seeking to exercise with their dead hand a continuing grip on this company," he said.
Earlier, on a second day of huge developments, Singaporean businessman Peter Lim, withdrew his £320m bid.
He said: "The [Liverpool] board is intent on selling the club to NESV to the exclusion of all other parties, regardless of the merits of their bids."
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