LFC fans pledge £60m for buyout of Liverpool FC

Apr 10 2008 by Aaron Boland, Liverpool Daily Post

A BID by Liverpool FC supporters to raise £500m to buy out the club has secured £60m in definite pledges, with another £55m from fans showing “strong interest.”

The Share Liverpool FC group said it would now be seeking talks with the club’s US owners about its bid to purchase the club and build a new stadium.

The takeover plan was launched on January 31, with an appeal for 100,000 fans to invest about £5,000 each in a display of supporter power.

Since its launch, the group has won the backing of such high-profile former players as Phil Thompson and John Aldridge.

The campaign arose after fans became increasingly unhappy with the financial management of Liverpool FC by its new American owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

Rogan Taylor, who is leading the buy-out team, last night said the number of serious pledges received so far showed the group’s bid was “credible.”

He added: “We have now got sufficient pledges to seek out consultations with the current owners, and that’s what we intend to do.

“I’m delighted but not altogether surprised by the amount of interest, backed by financial pledges, shown among supporters in the idea of buying out the club.”