Purslow pleased with sale

Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow feels New England Sports Ventures (NESV) are the ideal candidates to rebuild the club.

John W Henry, the head of NESV, successfully completed a takeover of the Reds on Friday.

He has expressed his delight at acquiring the Anfield outfit from fellow Americans Tom Hicks and George Gillett and has vowed to return the club to the pinnacle of the game.

The agreement reached with Liverpool is intended to bring a distracting saga in the club’s history to a close.

Legal action from Hicks and Gillett is still threatened, with the pair looking for £1billion in damages.

However, Purslow is convinced that the Reds are in better shape now than they were and is adamant that NESV were the standout candidates to take control.

“We’ve sorted out our financial issues once and for all and we can now get back to football,” he said.

“It was incredibly civilised and it’s just a pleasure to work with people like Martin Broughton (Liverpool chairman). We have the best lawyers in London…it was tranquillity.”
Debt

Purslow has also assured Liverpool supporters that they should not be concerned that the new owners are from the same American sporting background as the outgoing ones.

“Where your passport comes from isn’t a priority,” he stressed.

“The club now has virtually no debt and a lot of our competitors would love to say that.”

Meanwhile, the Royal Bank of Scotland, who are owed £237million by Hicks and Gillett, have expressed their pleasure at a takeover deal being completed.

They have also responded to the latest actions of the American duo by insisting that they are prepared to fight any further claims.

“RBS is pleased the sale of LFC to NESV has been completed and are confident this will provide the foundation for the Club and its fans to enjoy renewed success on and off the pitch,” RBS said in a statement.

“RBS is aware of reports that Mr Hicks and Mr Gillett may intend to pursue further litigation in relation to the sale of Liverpool F.C.

“The English Courts have described claims made to date as “not realistic and abusive”. Any further claims against RBS will be vigorously opposed.”