LIVERPOOL UP FOR SALE

Liverpool's controversial owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett confirmed today that they are looking to walk away from the club, and have appointed a new chairman to help find a buyer. The club confirmed the appointment of Martin Broughtonas chairman and also that Barclays Capital are to advise the Reds' current co-owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, on the sale of the club. "Liverpool Football Club today announced that Martin Broughton has been appointed as chairman with immediate effect," a statement on the Reds' official website reads. "The new chairman will oversee a formal sale process launched by current owners, Thomas Hicks and George Gillett Jr. "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 also confirmed that their tenure at Anfield was on the way to being over, and looked forward to Broughton taking the club forward. "Owning Liverpool Football Club over these past three years has been a rewarding and exciting experience for us and our families," a statement read. "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.

"We are delighted that Martin Broughton has agreed to take the position of chairman, working alongside the club's excellent senior management team.

"Martin is a distinguished business leader of excellent judgment 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."

The club also insisted that plans for a new stadium would continue to go ahead.

Broughton, who became chairman of British Airways in 2004 and chaired the British Horseracing Board from 2004-2007, was delighted to have been appointed to his new role at Anfield.

"I am excited and honoured to be taking up this position," he said. "Liverpool is a great club with a fantastic history. 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." Jay McKenna, a representative of Reds supporters' group Spirit of Shankly, welcomed the news. "I think fans will most certainly be pleased that Tom Hicks and George Gillett have finally done what we've asked them to do for quite a while now and that's put Liverpool Football Club up for sale," he told Sky Sports News. "They haven't been fit and proper owners, and they've been allowed over the past couple of seasons to allow Liverpool to stagnate and stand still. "Hopefully this will be the beginning of the end of their reign at Liverpool Football Club but it's certainly not the beginning of the end for questions for fans and they'll continue I think. "We'd like to see proper owners brought in. Owners who will do the right thing for Liverpool Football Club, who will stick to promises and won't tell us lies. "We'd like to see owners who let Liverpool Football club move forward on the pitch rather then talk about shennanigans off the pitch."

POTENTIAL BUYER - Yahya Kirdi

Syrian businessman Yahya Kirdi has revealed he's in advanced talks to buy Liverpool.

A number of potential investors have been linked with a move for the Anfield outfit and now former Syria international Kirdi is ready to end Hicks and Gillett's time on Merseyside.

Former Celtic player Andy Lynch has been brought in by Kirdi to act as a go-between in the deal and he is hopeful a takeover could be completed soon.

"Talks are on-going with Tom Hicks and George Gillett and are at an advanced stage," Lynch told the Daily Mirror.

"The planned buy-out will have massive implications for Liverpool. Liverpool aren't the force they were so this is just what they need.

"I've been to Anfield on business recently and I'm acting as the go-between in the whole deal.

"Hopefully it's not too much longer before it's all done and dusted."