Politicians Raise Concern Over Liverpool Sale

Three Merseyside MPs have met
with Liverpool FC to raise
concerns over the club's future.
Liverpool supporters Steve
Rotheram (Walton), Alison
McGovern (Wirral South) and
Derek Twigg (Halton) have all
raised concerns in the House of
Commons over the
rammifications of the sale
which will seal Tom Hicks and
George Gillett's imminent
departure from Anfield.
On Thursday, the trio met
Christian Purslow, the club's
managing director, to discuss
issues raised by supporters and
constituents in recent weeks as
the sale process continues to
drag on with only weeks
remaining before the Royal
Bank of Scotland's loan deadline
expires.
Fans continue to remain
anxious about the long-term
future at Anfield following the
Americans' failure to ensure
that the club remained debt-
free following their takeover in
2007.
However a statement from the
group revealed that they were
satisfied with the outcome of
the meeting and felt that
Purslow, along with fellow
board members, commercial
director, Ian Ayre and,
chairman, Martin Broughton are
doing all they can to find the
right buyer for the club.
“We are grateful to Liverpool
Football Club and Christian
Purslow for agreeing to a
meeting so that we could
discuss the current situation
regarding the potential sale," it
read.
"We are conscious that a crucial
deadline is looming which has
increased the anxiety of
supporters, thousand of whom
have contacted us, and we are
keen to do all we can to see the
club in a sustainable financial
position.
"We came away with the clear
view that everything possible is
being done by Chairman, Martin
Broughton, Managing Director,
Christian Purslow and
Commercial Director Ian Ayre to
secure a buyer that will be right
for Liverpool Football Club and
will take the club forward.
"It is important that the Club
gets things right this time
regarding its future ownership
and we believe the independent
members of the Board deserve
the backing of the clubâ €™s
supporters.�
All three Labour MPs signed an
Early Day Motion in June to
highlight Gillett and Hicks'
failure to 'exercise responsible
stewardship', citing the failure
to fulfil their promise to build a
new stadium in Stanley Park as
one of justification for 'a
positive strategy to take the
club forward'.
Rotheram, who was Lord Mayor
of Liverpool before being
elected as Walton MP, added: â
€œThe future of Liverpool FC
and the building of a new
stadium is crucial to the
regeneration of the Anfield area
and I emphasised this during
our meeting with Christian
Purslow.
"We need to bring an end to
this saga and the uncertainty
that has helped create such
horrendous conditions for
residents living in the area.⠀�