A year from their high court battle, Reds’ managing director Ian Ayre reflects on one of the most momentous days in Liverpool’s history

IT WAS a moment of welcome relief on a day of unremitting tension. As the public gallery jostled for position to witness Liverpool’s future being played out at the High Court in London, the judge decided enough was enough.

“We were all crammed into the little court and somebody managed to talk the usher into letting the fans to go and watch from up top,” recalls Ian Ayre, then the club’s commercial director.

“Then the judge came out and said ‘I’m sorry, you’ll have to leave from there, it’s a health and safety issue’ and some Scouser up there said ‘can we appeal against that?’ That gave us some respite!

“That was my favourite memory of the proceedings. But to be honest, I think I’ve mentally blocked most of them out.”

Small wonder. The surreal sight of the club’s immediate existence resting at the hands of a High Court judge signified just how desperate the situation had become with Liverpool potentially on the brink of going bust.

It was a year ago today that Tom Hicks and George Gillett fought to prevent their main creditors, the Royal Bank of Scotland, from forcing through the sale of the club to a group of investors led by Boston Red Sox owner John W Henry.

Put simply, RBS had become fed up at Hicks and Gillett defaulting on repayments, and wanted their £280million debt repaid by the end of the week or the club would go into administration and Liverpool, who were then in the relegation zone, would most likely be deducted nine points.

Salvation came in the form of New England Sports Ventures. Martin Broughton, the chairman appointed by Hicks and Gillett to oversee the sale of the club, agreed a £300m deal with NESV.

That, though, wasn’t a big enough offer for the American duo, who subsequently attempted to depose Broughton, managing director Christian Purslow and Ayre to ensure the club rather than their pockets bore the brunt of any loss, with the proposed deal leaving them £144m in arrears.