PEPE REINA has urged co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett to ensure a swift sale of the club to aid Liverpool’s hopes of recovery next season.

The ongoing problems both on and off the field at Anfield were brought into sharp focus during the past few days with the release of the latest accounts and the conclusion of the Premier League campaign.

It emerged on Friday that Liverpool had posted a record pre-tax loss of £54.9million for the year 2008-09 while the debt of the club’s parent company Kop Holdings had risen to £351m.

The goalless draw at Hull City that followed two days later consigned Rafael Benitez’s side to seventh place – the Anfield outfit’s lowest league finish since 1999 – and a July start to their Europa League challenge next season.

Benitez, who expressed his desire to stay at Liverpool given the right reassurances, will meet with new chairman Martin Broughton again this week to discuss the direction of the club.

Liverpool’s poor showing has underlined the need for squad strengthening, with Benitez keen for significant funds to be released ahead of the summer transfer window.

Broughton hopes the club will be sold “in a matter of months” and a concerned Reina admits the ownership situation must be resolved as soon as possible.

“Of course we worry,” said the goalkeeper. “It is a little bit of a concern and we need to sort out these kind of things, like the sale of the club and the thing with the owners.

“Once we settle all this then we can begin to look forward and improve the squad.

“It is vital we have a quick sale of the club. It would be simple as it would mean we could start planning for next season earlier.

“All that I would ask is that if it is going to happen, then it happens as soon as possible to help the club itself.”

Reina added: “It has been a really disappointing season. The only thing we can do is look forward and try to improve and build a competitive squad.

“We need to spend some money on the squad to be competitive again so we can fight for a place in the top four.