| Liverpool FC sale: Tom Hicks refuses to recognise Broughton authority • Hicks remains determined to block sale of Liverpool• Co-owner is attempting to replace club's boardThe Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks is determined to fight to hang on to control of the club after refusing to recognise the chairman Martin Broughton's authority.Broughton, appointed in April to oversee the sale, revealed yesterday that Hicks attempted to sack the managing director, Christian Purslow, and commercial director Ian Ayre and install his own people in order to block a £300m deal with New England Sports Ventures (NESV).That was blocked by Broughton, who insists Hicks signed agreements not to oppose the sale when the club received an extension to their refinancing deal with Royal Bank of Scotland earlier this year. Hicks and co-owner George Gillett stand to lose a total of £144m if the NESV deal goes through.Hicks's New York-based spokesman Mark Semer said that Broughton's claim was disputed by the Americans. "There were no such undertakings given to Broughton, the board has been legally reconstituted, and the new board does not approve of this proposed transaction," Semer told Bloomberg News.After rejecting the attempted coup, which would have seen Hicks's son Mack and Lori McCutcheon, of Hicks Holdings, replace Purslow and Ayre, Broughton continued with the conference call board meeting even though Hicks had put the phone down.The chairman is confident he and the other two England-based members of the board have acted appropriately but they will not be able to have that confirmed until the issue is thrashed out in court next week.The Liverpool manager, Roy Hodgson, has welcomed news of the planned sale. "It's very positive and of course I'm delighted," he said. "It's been going on a long time and I know how hard the board have worked to set things up."I know it's not easy for them because the owners have other ideas in terms of the sale of the club and what is achievable. But I was delighted to hear the news and have it confirmed that it looks like it is going to go through."LiverpoolBusinessguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Hodgson hails proposed Liverpool buyout Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson is delighted the Boston Red Sox owners want to rescue the heavily indebted club, despite a looming court battle by the board to force the club's current owners to sell. cbc.ca |
Young puts Villa contract talks on hold • Winger wants to concentrate on performances on pitch• 'I want to stress that I have no problem with Aston Villa'Ashley Young has told Aston Villa he will not be signing a new contract before the summer.The 25-year-old, signed from Watford by Martin O'Neill in 2007, insists he is happy at Villa Park but does not want to be distracted."I've told the people at Villa that I won't be signing a new contract at the moment," he told the Sun. "I know they want to get it done now but my current deal still has a year to run after this season and I feel there is plenty of time to talk next summer."I want to stress that I have no problem with Aston Villa. I love the fans and I'm very much enjoying my football. I want to concentrate on what's happening on the field and don't want to get distracted."It's a big season for me and I'm hopeful there are good times ahead under the new manager."Villa, who replaced O'Neill with the former Liverpool manager Gérard Houllier this season, sit eighth in the Premier League.Young, who cost Villa just short of £10m as a 21-year-old, returned to the England team this month for the 0-0 draw with Montenegro. Houllier had indicated earlier this month that he expected Young to commit his long term future to Villa "sooner rather than later".Aston Villaguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Wayne Rooney signs new five-year deal to stay at Manchester United England striker performs dramatic u-turn by agreeing new five-year contract to stay at Old Trafford until at least June 2015. telegraph.co.uk |
Kenya Red Cross: 7 Fans Killed at Soccer Match The Kenya Red Cross says seven people have died in a stampede while trying to gain access to a soccer match between two of Kenya's most popular teams. feeds.nytimes.com |