Soccer-Liverpool battle moves to court, new bid made
RBS take on American owners in court * NESV proposed takeover awaits verdict
* Singapore billionaire enters fray (Recasts, adds Lim bid)
The battle for ownership of Liverpool took a new twist on Tuesday as a second bidder emerged while the club were arguing in a London court room that they should be able to sell for an already agreed but lower price.
American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett are trying to block the club's sale after the board agreed a 300 million-pound ($478.1-million) deal with New England Sports Ventures (NESV), owner of the Boston Red Sox, against their will.
The duo had on Tuesday accepted they had breached their contracts with the lenders but argued that they did so because the board had failed to fully exploit alternative sale options.
While events unfolded inside the court room, Singapore billionaire Peter Lim threw his hat into the ring with an increased cash bid for the club of 320 million pounds.
The case, which is being watched intensely by Liverpool fans who want to get rid of the current owners, will also go a long way to determining whether the club go into administration and face a nine-point deduction.
Hicks and Gillett had tried to dismiss two members of the board and replace them with their own people ahead of the NESV agreement in a bid to scupper the plan, which they said was not in the best interests of the Premier League club.
RBS lawyers argued that Hicks and Gillett had shown "breath- taking arrogance" by trying to change the board.
Liverpool's major creditor Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) is contesting the case against the owners because it had ruled that only chairman Martin Broughton could make changes to the board.
That was required by RBS to prevent the two Americans from blocking any sale. Tuesday's case will examine whether Broughton had the authority to agree the deal with NESV.
RBS said in a statement that Hicks and Gillett were in breach of their contractual undertakings agreed when their loan was extended in April, but said the start of court action does not represent plans to appoint an administrator.
The holding company of the club could already technically be in default, but that would make little difference to proceedings, which will hinge on the outcome of the court case.
* Singapore billionaire enters fray (Recasts, adds Lim bid)
The battle for ownership of Liverpool took a new twist on Tuesday as a second bidder emerged while the club were arguing in a London court room that they should be able to sell for an already agreed but lower price.
American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett are trying to block the club's sale after the board agreed a 300 million-pound ($478.1-million) deal with New England Sports Ventures (NESV), owner of the Boston Red Sox, against their will.
The duo had on Tuesday accepted they had breached their contracts with the lenders but argued that they did so because the board had failed to fully exploit alternative sale options.
While events unfolded inside the court room, Singapore billionaire Peter Lim threw his hat into the ring with an increased cash bid for the club of 320 million pounds.
The case, which is being watched intensely by Liverpool fans who want to get rid of the current owners, will also go a long way to determining whether the club go into administration and face a nine-point deduction.
Hicks and Gillett had tried to dismiss two members of the board and replace them with their own people ahead of the NESV agreement in a bid to scupper the plan, which they said was not in the best interests of the Premier League club.
RBS lawyers argued that Hicks and Gillett had shown "breath- taking arrogance" by trying to change the board.
Liverpool's major creditor Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) is contesting the case against the owners because it had ruled that only chairman Martin Broughton could make changes to the board.
That was required by RBS to prevent the two Americans from blocking any sale. Tuesday's case will examine whether Broughton had the authority to agree the deal with NESV.
RBS said in a statement that Hicks and Gillett were in breach of their contractual undertakings agreed when their loan was extended in April, but said the start of court action does not represent plans to appoint an administrator.
The holding company of the club could already technically be in default, but that would make little difference to proceedings, which will hinge on the outcome of the court case.