Liverpool FC owner denies planning to buy Roma

Nov 13 2007 by Rory Squires, Liverpool Daily Post

A SPOKESMAN for Tom Hicks has flatly denied the Liverpool co-owner has any interest in acquiring Serie A giant Roma.

The Italian club’s share price rocketed by around eight per cent on Monday in the wake of widespread reports in the country that Hicks had held talks with Roma president Franco Sensi about buying a majority shareholding.

However, Hicks’ spokesman Roy Winnick insists the speculation is wide of the mark.

“There is absolutely no truth whatsoever in the rumour that Mr Hicks is even considering investing in Roma football club,” Winnick told PA Sport’s Football Insider.

Earlier in the day, Roma’s controlling shareholder Italpetroli released a statement on Roma’s official website, www.asroma.it, saying the company had “been informed by a third party of the possible interest of an American businessman wanting to invest in AS Roma’s capital”.

The statement added: “As of yet, Italpetroli has not received, directly or indirectly, any interest nor offer from such investor, with the object of acquiring the majority package of AS Roma.”

Hicks and fellow American businessman George Gillett completed a takeover of Liverpool back in February.

UEFA regulations prohibit an individual from having a majority shareholding in more than one club competing in the same competition.

Hicks’ Southwest Sports Group also owns the Dallas Stars ice hockey team from the NHL and the Texas Rangers baseball franchise from MLB in the United States.