25 Jan 2008Liverpool owners secure future

Liverpool owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett have secured their futures at Anfield with the completion of a £350 million refinancing package.

It had been widely reported earlier in the week that the pair were having trouble securing a deal but now an agreement has been reached.

The deal will help the Americans to repay the money they borrowed in order to purchase the club in March and means that work can finally begin on the long-awaited new stadium.

Plans for the new Stanley Park stadium have been in place for some time now and BBC sports editor Mihir Bose said that £60 million of the package will be used to kick-start the project.

"Liverpool are very keen for the announcement of this package to be presented as a good news story from Anfield after weeks of strife," he commented.

However, Mr Bose refused to rule out a takeover attempt from Dubai International Capital (DIC), which bid for the club at the same time as Gillett and Hicks.

"I'm told by my sources in Dubai that DIC is still very keen and has been selling assets to make sure it has the necessary money," he continued.

"DIC is still in the wings and I wouldn't be surprised if something happens on that front, maybe not just now but in the next year or so," continued Mr Bose.

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