Liverpool Sale To Face Legal Blockades

Liverpool's sale to New England Sports Ventures may not happen until last night's boardroom conflict is settled. The Daily Mail says controversial owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett sensationally tried to sack managing director Christian Purslow and commercial director Ian Ayre and replace them with two close American allies minutes before a meeting to discuss two 'excellent' offers, from the Red Sox and an Asian rival. But chairman Martin Broughton's casting vote prevented Purslow and Ayre being replaced by Mack Hicks, son of Tom, and his Hicks Holdings colleague Lori Kay McCutcheon, leaving the conflict in the hands of the lawyers. Ian Ayres and Christian Purslow. Purslow and chairman Martin Broughton have always argued that Hicks and Gillett no longer have the final say on boardroom matters, after falling behind with payments to the Royal Bank of Scotland, and that any proposal needs a majority vote from the club 's five directors. With the Americans viewing it differently, and attempting to unseat Purslow and Ayre, the conflict will have to be resolved through legal channels.