Soccer:Liverpool co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have confirmed their intention to sell the club, having "engaged Barclays Capital to advise on the sale process" and brought in British Airways chairman Martin Broughton to oversee a deal.
The latter has been appointed chairman of the club by the pair in a move they claim has the blessing of the club’s “existing bankers” Royal Bank of Scotland and Wachovia.
The American businessmen have faced intense scrutiny from Liverpool fans with protests for their removal a frequent occurrence at Anfield after they burdened the club with the huge debts of its parent company.
A statement on the club’s website read: "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."
Hicks and Gillett said in a joint statement that being owners of Liverpool for the past three years had been "rewarding and exciting".
"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," they said.
“Martin (Broughton) is a distinguished business leader of excellent judgement 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.”
Broughton added: “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.”
Broughton said he wants manager Rafael Benitez to stay at the club and insisted there would be no need to sell star players like Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres. He said money will be made available to make signings in the summer, though he refused to indicate how much.
In searching for an investor, Hicks and Gillett valued Liverpool at around €570 million but the one offer to date - €125 milion from the The Rhone Group for a 40 per cent stake - was declined.
Syrian businessman Yahya Kirdi, backed by one of the United Arab Emirates' ruling families, has claimed to be at an advanced stage of negotiations with the Americans, while a Chinese consortium has also been linked with a takeover.
However, now there is a chance of wholly owning a club with the profile of Liverpool's there are likely to be a number of other interested parties coming forward.
The announcement may be enough to fully focus Benitez on remaining at Anfield, after his agent confirmed today he was approached by Juventus in January.
Benitez, who is under contract with Liverpool until June 2014, now looks likely to outlast the owners, with whom he has endured a fractious relationship.
The Spaniard has been openly critical of the financial constraints imposed on him by the pair and their refusal to back his purchases without insisting on bringing in funds through player sales.
This afternoon, he described the news as "positive" but refused to be drawn on what it might mean for him.
“It seems the club is moving forward and so that is positive,” said Benitez, celebrating his 50th birthday. “It is important for the club to move forward. It could be good news.
“It is positive he said he (Broughton) wants me to stay but I’ve not spoken to him yet so in our first meeting we can talk about everything.
“I am sure we will have a very good conversation about the present and the future but at the moment I am more concerned about things like (Fernando) Torres.”
A knee problem forced Torres to miss last weekend’s goalless draw against Fulham as he flew to Barcelona to see Dr Ramon Cugat, the surgeon who operated on him in January.
After returning for yesterday’s Hillsborough memorial service he was due to return to Spain for a further examination only to be grounded by the closure of British airspace due to the cloud of volcanic dust.
Benitez wants him to have another assessment before considering whether to use him against West Ham on Monday or save him for the Europa League semi-final first leg against Torres’ former club Atletico Madrid on Thursday.
“We had some problems with the flights so we have kept him here but he needs to see the specialist,” said Benitez. “Talking with him before he was thinking about West Ham and the rest of the games but against West Ham...I think it will be difficult.
“Everything is fine but we have to wait for the diagnosis and we’ve had to delay the meeting with the doctor.
“If the flight is available he has to go and see the specialist to make sure everything is fine.”