RBS Quick To Deny Liverpool Takeover Reports

Negotiations with several potential buyers failed after none could prove it had enough money, the newspaper said. Gillett and Hicks have until Oct. 6 to repay the RBS loan. The lender has set an unofficial deadline of the end of this month for Gillett and Hicks to find a credible bidder, the Times reported, citing people familiar with the talks.

“RBS continues to have confidence in the sale process and is making no preparations to take control of the club,” bank spokeswoman Claire Gorman said in an e-mailed statement today.

Jonathon Brill, a spokesman for Hicks and Gillett, didn’t immediately return a phone call from Bloomberg News seeking comment.

Hicks and Gillett bought Liverpool in 2007 for 219 million pounds, including debt. The club finished seventh in the Premier League last season, its worst performance in 11 years, and didn’t qualify for this season’s Champions League.

While it recruited Joe Cole and retained Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, Purslow confirmed there will be players leaving the team. They may include Argentina’s Javier Mascherano.

“There are a few people who will move on,” he said. “Javier has been wanting to go for personal reasons. We have not had any offers for him, and the manager (Roy Hodgson) is very happy with him, but it is true he is looking for a move.”