Administration still a possibility for Liverpool – Broughton

(GSM) – Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton admits that going into administration and the docking of nine points is still a possibility for the club.

Speaking from Washington, Broughton talked frankly about the threats that face the Reds as the October 15 deadline for the repayment of £237 million they owe the Royal Bank of Scotland quickly approaches.

The Liverpool chairman acknowledged that the club might face heavy sanctions if current owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett opt against accepting the two proposed bids.

Broughton told ESPN: “It could happen, yes. This is all part of why it is important that we made the decision on Tuesday to accept one or the other of the two very acceptable bids. Heading for administration was a very likely outcome if we didn’t.”

“Even now with the court case looming, administration cannot be ruled out,” Broughton confessed. “It is not inevitable, and I am not going to start giving percentages of how much it is possible. That is why we are going to court to clarify our position on the sale of the club, and we have to win in court, and we will win in court.”

Broughton accepts that it is not only the club’s fans who would like to see the club survive as the whole of football would be shocked to see the once-mighty Liverpool fall: “Yes, I agree with you. Yes, this is about Liverpool, but it is also about football, not just Liverpool, and all of football would want to see Liverpool in a healthy state. Yes I am confident that we shall succeed, but lawyers are always confident – on both sides.”

Broughton maintains he will do all he can to avoid the club going into administration: “Going into administration needs to be avoided at all costs, as the negative impact would be catastrophic. Setting aside the nine-point deduction, it would have an impact on Liverpool’s value and be wide open to predators, whereas we have what we believe is the right new owners to take the club forward.”