LIVERPOOL football club today won their seismic court battle against co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

At around 10.45am today Mr Justice Floyd ruled in favour of the English members of the Anfield board in a decision that has massive implications for the Reds.

An application from the Royal Bank of Scotland that Hicks and Gillett illegally reconstituted the board when they tried to remove directors Christian Purslow and Ian Ayre last Tuesday was upheld amid triumphant scenes at the High Court in London today.

The decision effectively established the Americans breached written undertakings made in April that only chairman Martin Broughton could reconfigure the board.

Now the path appears clear for the £300m sale of Liverpool to New England Sports Ventures to go through – as voted on a 3-2 majority one week ago. NESV front man John W Henry reacted to the news delightedly on twitter.

Christian Purslow said: "I am elated - elated. very very important day for our club - I am elated. I am delighted; we came for justice and we got justice."

Martin Broughton said: "This will clear the way for a sale; we will have a board meeting this evening once the board has been properly reconstitued and proceed with the sale process."