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Broughton "hopeful" sale will be concluded on Friday

Martin Broughton is confident the long-running saga at Anfield will soon reach a positive conclusion © Getty Images

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Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton says he is hopeful that New England Sports Ventures' takeover of the club will be completed on Friday, after the High Court dismissed an injunction preventing the sale.

American co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks effectively blocked the purchase of the Premier League club by acquiring a restraining order from a Texas court but, on Thursday, judge Mr Justice Floyd ruled the pair had until 16.00 BST on Friday to withdraw it.

Both parties, Liverpool's board and Gillett and Hicks, will have legal representatives present when the Texan court in Dallas hold session at 13.00 BST on Friday to discuss the rescinding of the order, just three hours before the High Court deadline.

Despite the looming spectre of yet another court date and a daunting Friday afternoon deadline to repay financiers Royal Bank of Scotland a £280 million debt, Broughton still expects the £300 million deal with John W Henry's NESV to go through.

Asked if it would be completed on Friday Broughton said: "I hope so, we still have to remove the restraining order. We're nearly there."

"Mr Henry is very committed. I think we've got lots of bidders who are very committed," Broughton told Sky Sports News.

The Liverpool chairman also said he expected potential new American owner Henry to attend Sunday's Merseyside derby against Everton at Goodison Park.

"My guess is we'll have it done [on Friday] and he will be there, but we've got to get rid of the [restraining] order first."

Gillett and Hicks have been fighting in the courts since Broughton, who was brought in by club creditors RBS as an independent chairman with powers to sell the club, agreed to trade the club to NESV last week.

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