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Hicks and Gillett 'have not been all bad' - Broughton

Martin Broughton has been open and honest about the pending takeover of Liverpool Football Club © Getty Images

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Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton has spoken positively of some of the work done by Tom Hicks and George Gillett, claiming the duo 'have not been all bad'.

The American owners have become despised by the majority of Liverpool fans who were promised a new stadium and long-term investment, only to see the club saddled with crippling debts and the threat of administration.

As a potential last act, Hicks and Gillett have taken a legal route in order to block the sale of Liverpool Football Club to New England Sports Ventures, as they continue to seek a profit on their time spent at Anfield.

However, despite the increasing protests and clear hatred that Liverpool fans hold for their current owners, Broughton retains an objective view of the situation, insisting the club's co-owners have helped take Liverpool's commercial department forward.

"George [Gillett] and Tom [Hicks] have not been all bad," Broughton was quoted as saying in the Guardian. "There is this perception that they did nothing at all and were a complete disaster.

"But if you look at the commercial side of the business they have appointed Ian Ayre, they gave him a mandate and the freedom to do his job as a commercial director, and he has more than tripled revenues. If they had not been leveraged then they would have started the new stadium, and we wouldn't be saying what terrible guys these are."

Meanwhile, NESV has issued a statement regarding its pending takeover, insisting it will follow the blueprint that has proved such a success at the Boston Red Sox to ensure Liverpool are returned to genuine challengers for trophies once more.

"We have a proven track record, shown clearly with the Boston Red Sox," NESV said in a statement on Bloomberg.com. "The team has won two World Series championships over the past six years. We will bring the same kind of openness, passion, dedication and professionalism to Liverpool FC.

"NESV wants to create a long-term financially solid foundation for Liverpool FC and is dedicated to ensuring that the club has the resources to build for the future, including the removal of all acquisition debt. Our objective is to stabilize the club and ultimately return Liverpool FC to its rightful place in English and European football, successfully competing for and winning trophies."

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