Bookmakers Betfred won the auction to buy the Tote today after the Government backed a takeover deal worth around £265m (€298m).

Liverpool have confirmed the departure of former managing director Christian Purslow from the club.

Former Liverpool chairman Sir Martin Broughton has confirmed he plans to sue former co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett for defamation.

A HIGH Court judge has effectively told former Liverpool owner Tom Hicks to “put up or shut up” in his bid to sue over last year’s £300m (€356m) sale of the club.

Liverpool’s owners Fenway Sports Group, the Royal Bank of Scotland and former chairman Sir Martin Broughton remain confident Tom Hicks’ threat to sue over the sale of the club will fail after the Texan lost another court battle.

Former Liverpool owner Tom Hicks was given the chance today to launch massive damages claims over the sale of the Premier League club after orders barring action in the US were varied by a High Court judge in London.

The Texan former owner of Liverpool will discover today whether he will be able to launch massive damages claims in the US courts over the sale of the Premier League side.

The Texan former owner of Liverpool will discover tomorrow whether he will be able to launch massive damages claims in the US courts over the sale of the Premier League side.

FORMER Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks yesterday applied to the High Court in Britain to lift orders preventing him from launching a massive damages claim in the US courts over the sale of the Premier League side.

Former Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks today applied to the High Court to lift orders preventing him from launching a massive damages claim in the US courts over the sale of the Premier League side.

British Airways will embark on a new stockmarket journey today when it is listed as part of International Consolidated Airline Group following its merger with Spanish rival Iberia.

BA will trade on the stockmarket for the last time today before its merger with Spanish carrier Iberia.

IN 1998, Arsenal won the Double playing some of the best counter-attacking football the English game had ever seen. Arsene Wenger, whose arrival had been greeted with scepticism verging on derision, had transformed the club in less than two years.

GRAEME McDOWELL, 31, from Portrush in Co Antrim, is awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours List today after a sensational golfing year.

LIVERPOOL’S departing chairman Martin Broughton feels he is leaving the club in good hands as he prepares to hand over to New England Sports Ventures’ Tom Werner.

Liverpool’s departing chairman Martin Broughton feels he is leaving the club in good hands as he prepares to hand over to New England Sports Ventures’ Tom Werner.

Liverpool have announced their new chairman will be Tom Werner, who holds a similar position with club owners New England Sports Ventures.

Liverpool owner John W Henry has revealed manager Roy Hodgson was surprised to learn of Damien Comolli’s appointment as director of football strategy.

THE Yemeni cargo plane bomb plot should not be allowed to silence calls for an easing of “ludicrous and useless” airport security measures, the boss of budget airline Ryanair said yesterday.

Air passengers could now be subjected to “ludicrous” new security measures in the wake of the cargo plane bomb plot, Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary said today.

British Airways top bosses will land hefty pay rises on taking up their new posts once the airline merges with Spanish partner Iberia, it was revealed today.

The chairman of British Airways has attacked “completely redundant” airport checks and said the UK should stop “kowtowing” to US demands for increased security.

Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson has dismissed rumours suggesting he was on the verge of quitting.

Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow has decided to stand down from his role following the successful sale of the club.

LIVERPOOL can look forward to a virtually debt-free future after New England Sports Ventures (NESV) yesterday completed the £300 million (€343.6m) takeover of the club to bring a frenetic week to a conclusion.

Liverpool can look forward to a virtually debt-free future after New England Sports Ventures today completed the £300m (€343m) takeover of the club to conclude a frenetic week.

The takeover of Liverpool by Boston Red Sox owner John W Henry has moved significantly closer after it emerged the Premier League have rejected an attempt by a hedge fund to submit to their owners’ and directors’ test.

Boston Red Sox owner John W Henry today pledged to fight Tom Hicks’ “last desperate attempt” to hang on to Liverpool as the takeover battle appeared to move into its final stages.

Boston Red Sox owner John W Henry today pledged to fight Tom Hicks’ “last desperate attempt” to hang on to Liverpool.

Liverpool could have new owners by mid-afternoon if events in a Texas courtroom go their way today.

LIVERPOOL’S complicated ownership issues could finally be concluded several thousand miles away today when a court in Texas reconvenes.

Liverpool’s complicated ownership issues could finally be concluded several thousand miles away tomorrow when a court in Texas reconvenes, it has emerged tonight.

Liverpool again moved to the brink of new ownership after a British High Court judge dismissed an injunction preventing the sale of the club.

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks remains in control of his share of the club and has not sold out to Mill Financial, Press Association Sport has been told.

Liverpool’s directors today turned their attention to removing an “unwarranted and damaging” restraining order as they attempted to complete the controversial sale of the club.

THE battle for control of Liverpool took a sensational twist late last night after owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett claimed to have won a temporary restraining order from the Texas State District Court preventing the sale of the club.

Liverpool owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett claim they have won a temporary restraining order from the Texas State District Court preventing the sale of the club and are now seeking $1.6bn (€1.2bn)in damages.

American businessman John Henry looks to be one step closer to completing his takeover of Liverpool after arriving at the London offices of the legal firm where the club’s board are meeting to discuss the sale.

Liverpool are poised for new American owners as John Henry claims to have "a binding agreement" with regard to the sale of the club.

Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton is convinced the club now has "a great future" following a momentous day in the British High Court.

The High Court today granted injunctions that could open the way for the prompt sale of Liverpool.

A ruling is expected in the High Court this morning which could have far-reaching consequences for the future of Liverpool.

LIVERPOOL’s immediate future is set to be decided by Mr Justice Floyd in Britain’s High Court today after a day of twists and turns both inside and outside the courtroom.

EVEN the imaginations of those revered masters of comic opera, Gilbert and Sullivan, could not have devised a more topsy-turvy world than the august, 19th century, Courts of Justice in the Strand yesterday.