Liverpool have issued a statement outlining their intention to remove a Texas court’s restraining order to block the sale of the club to New England Sports Ventures.

John W Henry arrived at the offices of the club’s lawyers, Slaughter and May, on Wednesday night to try to complete his £300 million takeover, but Tom Hicks and George Gillett were able to secure a temporary restraining order minutes before it could be sealed. The duo are also claiming over £1 billion in damages.

Henry had said he was “pretty confident” of completing the takeover upon his arrival at the meeting in London, with the Royal Bank of Scotland having been given High Court backing earlier in the day to prevent Hicks and Gillett making changes to the board.

Hicks and Gillett predictably sought a further legal response, however, with the duo describing the sale as a “epic swindle” in which the so-called ‘home team’ on the Liverpool board – Martin Broughton, Christian Purslow and Ian Ayre – refused to listen to offers that would have been preferable to the co-owners.

There is some debate over whether a Texan court has jurisdiction over the sale of a club in England, and the action has been described as “unwarranted” by the club.

A club statement on Wednesday read: “Following the successful conclusion of High Court proceedings today, the boards of directors of Kop Football and Kop Holdings met tonight and resolved to complete the sale of Liverpool FC to New England Sports Ventures.

“Regrettably, Thomas Hicks and George Gillett have tonight obtained a Temporary Restraining Order from a Texas district court against the independent directors, Royal Bank of Scotland PLC and NESV to prevent the transaction being completed.

“The independent directors consider the restraining order to be unwarranted and damaging and will move as swiftly as possible to seek to have it removed.

“A further statement will be made in due course.”

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Liverpool have rejected a proposed refinancing strategy from co-owner Tom Hicks that could have given the American increased control at Anfield.

Hicks personally delivered his proposal direct to the Liverpool board in a showdown meeting ahead of the club’s Europa League tie, and was told that his plans were not acceptable.

In fact, Hicks was left in no doubt of the board’s resolve to find new owners and end his turbulent reign – alongside fellow American George Gillett – at the Premier League giants.

Hicks wants to buy out the £237 million Royal Bank of Scotland debt which is threatening to end his joint ownership of the club when the facility expires on deadline of October 6. He is hoping to raise funds from US banks to raise the funds to buy out RBS, possibly using the players and stadium as collateral.

Hicks has moved to thwart the possibility of RBS temporarily taking control of Liverpool and selling it off at a rock bottom price, far less than Hicks and Gillett believed it to be worth when they originally put the club up for sale at £800 million a year ago.

The price has since plummeted and might now be worth as little as £150 million. With no creditable buyer yet in public sight, Hicks is trying desperately to retain control, if not total control, and hold out in the hope of finding someone who will pay more later.

With Gillett’s finances in a parlous state, and with the possibility that he might default on other loans and ultimately lose his 50% stake in Liverpool, his partner Hicks is attempting to refinance alone and gain total control.

The Liverpool board are having none of that, believing an extension of the Hicks and Gillett ownership, even if it reverts to Hicks, would only prolong the financial misery.

Meanwhile, to ESPNsoccernet, Liverpool have refuted claims that they have sought advance funding from the Premier League from TV revenues and sponsorship payments as their financial situation is starting to alarm fiscal experts.

A fire sale of players in the January transfer window cannot be ruled out, according to ESPNsoccernet sources, but that would be one of the last resorts to shore up the ailing finances.

Under the circumstances Liverpool have already given assurances to the Premier League that they can fulfil all their fixtures for this season. A similar undertaking has been given to UEFA about the club’s participation in the Europa League.

ESPNsoccernet approached Liverpool to ask: “Can the club still afford the players’ huge monthly wage bill, considering the club are now in the red?”

A club spokesman said: “Liverpool FC has prudent working capital facilities that allow the Club to make proper provision for outgoings as and when they arise. These working capital facilities are totally satisfactory to both the Premier League and UEFA.”

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Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks is looking to sell the club for a lofty £800million.  Is he nuts?  How to sell for £800million when a club cannot win league title for 20 years, not qualified to next season’s champion league, and with a debt of £237m?  Crazy man, crazy American.  They are trying to make hefty profit at the expense of Liverpool.

Co-owners Hicks and George Gillett bought the club in 2007 for £219m, and the Americans want to make a hefty profit off their investment.

The pair’s intention to sell was brought to light after their recent appointment of chairman Martin Broughton.

A six-month reprieve has been granted by the Royal Bank of Scotland on the club’s £237m debts and the owners want to find a buyer as quick as possible.

“Liverpool will be the most profitable investment I have ever made,” Hicks said, according to the Daily Telegraph, insinuating a business motive was behind purchasing the club.“I should make four times my money. Liverpool has been the most rewarding in so many ways and the most painful in so many ways. When you feel fans turn against you, it is very frustrating.

“The fans blame the owners [for failures on the pitch], but the reality is that we have had injuries to our key players and we just were not a very good team without them.”

Hicks may have a hard time finding a buyer as potential purchases of the Merseyside club in the region of £500 million have fallen through in the past.

Liverpool’s supporters union, Spirit of Shankly, were less than happy with Hicks comments.

A spokesman for the union proclaimed, “To suggest he and George Gillett have quadrupled the value of the club in the last three years is simply not realistic. No potential investor will pay that much because the club is not worth that much.”

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