The boardroom battle between Liverpool co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett continues, as The Independent revealed on Tuesday that Gillett's director's box will be occupied by senior officials from Dubai International Capital -- the firm that wishes to buyout the American owners -- for the Champions League clash between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield Tuesday night. Gillett has said he will not attend the match because of ill health, and that his son will host the DIC officials instead, but the move may be a strategic decision to further rankle the feathers of his partner Hicks, who has been vehemently opposed to selling out to the Dubai group. As The Independent says, at the very least it will make for "an interesting seating arrangement."

DIC still has "hugely ambitious" plans for the Merseyside club, which it has been trying to acquire for two years. The group, which represents the investment arm of the emir of Dubai, is still confident of reaching a deal with the American co-owners in the next two weeks. Gillett, who is not on speaking terms with Hicks, has already agreed to sell his share, but no deal can take place without his partner's agreement. Meanwhile, Hicks has become an increasingly unpopular figure at Anfield due to a falling out with CEO Rick Parry. As it stands, the situation is untenable, and DIC believes that because Hicks cannot afford to buyout Gillett, he will eventually give in and sell his 50 percent stake, too.

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