THE Middle East investment arm of the Dubai government, DIC, have dismissed suggestions that they are still trying to buy Liverpool, or have moved on to Newcastle United.

The move has come following claims that Newcastle owner Mike Ashley has tried to interest them in a bid to buy the club, but yesterday's statement only serves to underline a situation that has existed for some time with regard to Liverpool.

As previously reported by the Daily Post, DIC is no longer being used as a financial vehicle to buy Liverpool FC.

The Dubai ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is now handling the situation as a personal venture.

This has been the case for a number of months when the sheikh took over the attempts to buy out Liverpool owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

It is believed that Sheikh Maktoum would still like to buy Liverpool, but those negotiations have not pro- gressed during the summer.

In that time, Hicks and Gillett failed to raise the funds to build a new 60,000-seater stadium on Stanley Park, and have delayed it by at least a year.

The statement from DIC, issued yesterday, said: “Following inaccurate speculation regarding DIC and Liverpool FC, DIC can confirm that it is not involved in any negotiations to buy LFC, and can confirm that it is not planning a fresh bid for LFC or any other football club. Nor is DIC or any other Dubai-based party aware of any consortium or vehicle involved in a bid.

“DIC has not mandated PCP to act for DIC or to act for them in any matter whatsoever. DIC would like to wish LFC and its fans a successful future.”