GORDON BROWN is being asked to intervene in the long-running saga of building a new stadium for Liverpool Football Club.

The idea of the Prime Minister being roped in to deal with such an issue might, at other times, seem incredible. But the six MPs who are calling on Mr Brown to get involved have a serious argument behind them.

For they believe the Government can pull the plug on a £350m loan to the club’s US owners, Tom Hicks and George Gillett, due to the part-nationalisation of the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Only the unprecedented £37bn banking bail-out has made such an audacious move possible. If successful, it would force the pair to sell the club and the MPs – led by Walton’s representative, Peter Kilfoyle – feel that could only be a good thing as the current situation is delaying much-needed regeneration for the Anfield area.

Mr Kilfoyle, as forthright as ever, says he objects to the idea of the Government bailing out the RBS “in order for two foreign nationals to use that money to buy a British institution without putting in any money if their own”.

Would Liverpool fans agree with his view?

The indications are that many have had enough of their club being owned by Messrs Hicks and Gillett – and there have been loud calls for deals to be struck with DIC, although the Dubai group has fallen silent of late.

But what is equally interesting is what such government intervention might mean for other football clubs across the country – and no doubt the reaction to the early day motion is being watched anxiously by owners and chairmen.

Gordon Brown has many pressing items to attend to at present. Yet it is this early day motion by a handful of MPs that, ultimately, could turn out to be one of the most significant.