Liverpool fans call on bank to cut funds to owners

Liverpool fans’ group the Spirit of Shankly want the Royal Bank of Scotland to stop financing the club’s American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

The bank, along with US investment bank Wachovia, gave finance to the owners in January to re-finance their original loan of £350m (€428.3m), which ended with the club being saddled with £30m (€36.7m) a year of interest payments.

That loan is due for re-negotiation again in January, and now the fans’ action group want the RBS to refuse any further cash.

It is being suggested that fans will be asked to close their accounts and disrupt the bank’s activities if further loans are allowed.

The SOS group say in a statement: “We would encourage the RBS to withdraw financial support for Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

“Should the owners come back asking for more finance in January, we would ask the bank to refuse as it is against the wishes of the vast majority of Liverpool fans.”