Hicks and Gillett lose Liverpool court battle

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

The club's owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett asked a judge to delay the hearing of an application by creditors Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) for mandatory orders paving the way for a possible sale this week.

But the plea was rejected by Mr Justice Floyd, sitting at the High Court in London.

The owners were also refused permission to appeal.

"I am not prepared to grant any relief. If I did it would risk stopping the sale and purchase agreement going ahead."

He said this would result in potential serious damage to the club and RBS.

At RBS's request, the judge imposed injunctions on the two men requiring them to restore the original constitutions of the companies and managing directors.

This appears to remove the final stumbling block to a £300 million takeover by New England Sports Ventures (NESV), which will see the RBS recoup its original £237 million loan to Mr Hicks and Mr Gillett when they bought the club in March 2007.

However with Singapore businessman Peter Lim's improved offer also on the table a reconstituted Liverpool board will now meet on Wednesday evening to discuss the next steps in the sale.