Huang denies formal Reds bid

Chinese businessman Kenny Huang has denied reports he has made a formal bid for Barclays Premier League club Liverpool.

The founder and chairman of Hong Kong-based investment company QSL Sports Ltd has been in talks with Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) for some time over buying out Liverpool’s £237m debt.

That would give him “a ridiculously large amount of leverage”, a source said on Monday, in order to be able to force out unpopular owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

However, in a statement released to The Sport Briefing by Huang’s representatives, the QSL chief has stated that reports of an official bid are premature.

The statement read: “In response to widespread media reports that Kenny Huang had made a formal bid for Liverpool Football Club, Mr Huang would like to emphasise that he has registered interest in investing in Liverpool FC but has made no formal bid.

“There has been much speculation and commentary from a wide array of people, many of whom have little knowledge of the facts.

“Unless there is a statement that specifically comes from Mr Huang or his authorised representatives, which presently is solely Hill & Knowlton Hong Kong office, we would suggest such comments should be given little credence.

“At this point in time there is nothing further for Mr Huang to announce. If there comes a time where this changes, we will make the appropriate announcements.”

Huang is backed by one of the wealthiest investment funds in the Far East and is well known in China for his interests in baseball and basketball, having last year bought a 15% stake in American National Basketball Association franchise Cleveland Cavaliers.

He also has long-term deals to develop China’s domestic baseball and basketball leagues in a nation where the two sports are rapidly growing in popularity.