Martin Broughton, Christian Purslow and Ian Ayre aren’t the reinforcementsLiverpool needs on the field after a horrendous start to the English Premier League season, but the Liverpool board members were treated as heroes by Reds supporters when they emerged from the packedCourt 18 of the Royal Courts of Justice on Wednesday.
Their efforts to rid the club of American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett Jr. moved one step closer to reality when the High Court ruled that Hicks and Gillett Jr., were in breach of contract with the Royal Bank of Scotland, which they owe $371million, for trying to block the sale of the club to New England Sport Ventures, owners of the Boston Red Sox.
Broughton, the chairman, Purslow and Ayre supported the deal, while Hicksand Gillett Jr., who have sought a higher price, tried to have Purslow and Ayre removed from the Liverpool board. The High Court ordered a mandatory injunction against Hicks and Gillett from trying toreshape the board — an order that paved the way for Broughton to call a board meeting for Wednesday night to finalize the NESV deal and lift a cloud over Liverpool.