Liverpool reveal boardroom split over takeover bids

Liverpool owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett attempted to remove board members Christian Purslow and Ian Ayre, the club has revealed.

The club’s three independent board members -Christian Purslow, Ian Ayre and Martin Broughton -met on Tuesday night to discuss two potential bids, with reports suggesting the trio were ready to commence advanced talks with bidders from both America and Asia.

A Liverpool statement read: “The Board of Directors have received two excellent financial offers to buy the Club that would repay all its long-term debt.

“A Board meeting was called today to review these bids and approve a sale. Shortly prior to the meeting, the owners – Tom Hicks and George Gillett – sought to remove Managing Director Christian Purslow and Commercial Director Ian Ayre from the Board, seeking to replace them with Mack Hicks and Lori Kay McCutcheon.

“This matter is now subject to legal review and a further announcement will be made in due course.

“Meanwhile, Martin Broughton, Christian Purslow and Ian Ayre continue to explore every possible route to achieving a sale of the Club at the earliest opportunity.”

Hicks and Gillett, who would reportedly see no profit from either deal, attempted to oust Managing Director Purslow and Commercial Director Ayre from their role as board members in order to further strengthen their position should a board vote be cast over the future of the club.

Reports have suggested the relationship between the independent board members and the current owners has been hostile for some time, though the new revelations about a power struggle at Anfield is now under legal review.