Business tycoon Sir Martin Broughton has said that he would consider partnering with a group of billionaires to make a Liverpool takeover bid – if they needed and wanted his assistance.
Speaking in an interview with the Liverpool Echo, the former Reds chairman claimed he floated the idea of investing at Anfield to some of those who were a part of his Chelsea bid last summer.
However, the draw of London was a huge selling point in bidding for the Blues, no so further action for the Merseyside club took place.
“I didn’t speak to Josh Harris and David Blitzer, as they have gone back to Crystal Palace, but I did speak to the other people in our consortium and Chelsea I spoke to, in case there was an interest in becoming a co-investor, not to acquire, but to become a co-investor,” Broughton said.
“But they are already foreign billionaires with a pad in Knightsbridge or Chelsea or Kensington and they came to London fairly regularly and when they came to London it was to watch Chelsea.
“So they are all Chelsea fans and not in the 68-year way going down there to watch them in the way I am but that is their team and they enjoy going down there. They were attracted by the idea of investing in a football team and Chelsea specifically.
“When I approached them about Liverpool – and I didn’t approach them about Manchester United, I would never approach them about Manchester United – but the result would have been the same. [They would say] ‘well I’ve got a pad in London.’ So that’s not the type of person that is going to come in really at Liverpool.
“So I wasn’t keen enough to go out and search for investors, new investors again. I think if anybody wanted my assistance in it, I would be willing to consider it but not actively.”
Broughton would consider Liverpool takeover bid
The idea of Broughton leading a consortium to takeover at Liverpool would lead to varying opinions at Anfield.
Firstly, many people would be thrilled, given he previously served as the Reds’ chairman between April 10 and October 13, 2010.
With a remit to sell the club from owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, Broughton and Liverpool’s board won the right to sell to New England Sports Ventures (NESV) – now FSG – in a High Court case.
Thus, with supporters’ strong dislike for Hicks and Gillett, Broughton received huge plaudits from the Merseyside fanbase.
However, on the other hand, others would be less thrilled with the news.
The former chairman is a life-long Chelsea fan – and openly so.
Having failed to win the bid for the west London outfit last summer, it could almost feel like Liverpool would be his less desirable alternative.
The Reds need owners who will be willing to turn the club around with great investment for the long-term future.
Therefore, if this wouldn’t be on the cards for Broughton, FSG may be better off looking elsewhere.