Tom Hicks and George Gillett today officially put Liverpool Football Club up for sale.
The Americans confirmed in a 9am statement that they are to relinquish their ownership of the Reds as they appointed new Chairman Martin Broughton to oversee the sale of Britain's most successful ever football club to new owners.
Barclays Capital have been hired to lead the bid to find new owners.
British Airway Chairman Broughton will work alongside current Managing Director Christian Purslow and other existing Anfield board members to lead the Reds into a new era - which it is intended will still include the buiilding of a long since planned new stadium - after all the troubles of the past three years.
A press release issued this morning read: "Liverpool Football Club today announced that Martin Broughton has been appointed as Chairman with immediate effect.
"The new Chairman will oversee a formal sale process launched by current owners, Thomas Hicks and George Gillett Jr.
"Following numerous expressions of interest from third parties, the Club has engaged Barclays Capital to advise on the sale process.
"The Club has the full support of its existing bankers for this process and has financing in place which will fully support the Club's operations."
London-born Broughton, 62, as well as being Chairman of British Airways, is deputy president of the Confederation of British Industry.
The statement continuned: "Mr Broughton will work alongside the club’s existing management team of Managing Director Christian Purslow, Commercial Director Ian Ayre and Financial Director Philip Nash.
"The day-to-day running of the club remains in the hands of this team, who have overseen a significant improvement in the financial performance of the Club since 2007.
During that time the Club’s revenues have increased by 55%; Commercial revenues have increased by 83%; Operating profit (before player trading and exceptionals) has increased by 60%.
"The Club will continue to progress the well-advanced plans for a new, larger, and state-of-the–art stadium which will form an exciting part of the club’s future development."
Dallas based Hicks and Colorado based Gillett said: “Owning Liverpool Football Club over these past three years has been a rewarding and exciting experience for us and our families.
"Having grown the Club this far we have now decided together to look to sell the Club to owners committed to take the Club through its next level of growth and development.
“We are delighted that Martin Broughton has agreed to take the position of Chairman, working alongside the club’s excellent senior management team. Martin is a distinguished business leader of excellent judgment and with a great reputation.
"He is a genuine football supporter and will seek to oversee the sales process in the best interests of the Club and its supporters.”
Martin Broughton said:“I am excited and honoured to be taking up this position.
"Liverpool is a great club with a fantastic history.
"I will run this sale process in the right way, for the benefit of the club and its fans.
"Liverpool is one of the world’s greatest clubs and my aim is to try and ensure that we find new owners who are able to build on the club’s recent improved financial performance in order to help deliver sporting success.”
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2010/04/16/liverpool-football-club-put-up-for-sale-by-tom-hicks-and-george-gillett-100252-26255640/2/
