RED BEERGOGGLES wrote:A piece from Dominic King lifted from the Liverpool Echo
MR Justice Floyd was 45 minutes in to delivering his findings on the case of the Royal Bank of Scotland against Hicks and others when Christian Purslow reached over to Martin Broughton and shook him firmly by the hand.
He then looked over to a couple of faces he recognised standing on the periphery of Court 18, smiled broadly and clenched his fist in celebration – this, if you will, was the final whistle which heralded the biggest off the field success in Liverpool's long and colourful history.
Here was Mr Justice Floyd delivering the news that Tom Hicks and George Gillett could not reconfigure the Anfield board in the form the American pair wanted last week - a decision which, in essence, pushed the Reds to the brink of concluding a £300m sale to New England Sports Ventures.
“I am not prepared to grant any action that will stop the SPA (Sale Process Agreement) going through,” he said. “If I was to grant an injunction it would be substantially damaging to the club, the Royal Bank of Scotland and potentially substantially damaging to NESV as well.”
Glorious.
After all the heartache of the past three-and-a-half years, all the harrowing headlines and, lately, the spectre of administration and a potential nine-point penalty from the Premier League, this was the news for which everyone connected with Liverpool had been praying.
The scenes which followed as those who had crammed into a room that screamed history made for astonishing viewing; Lord Grabiner QC, the man whom Liverpool had enlisted to fight their corner, received hefty slaps on the back from delighted fans and hearty handshakes.
In a candid moment, he let slip that it had been “one of his most satisfying victories” but should we have doubted his credentials?
Described as being “startlingly talented”, to watch Lord Grabiner dismantle the arguments of Hicks and Gillett's QC Paul Girolami on Tuesday afternoon was to watch a master class from a man at the summit of his profession.
Outside Court the scenes were no less special.
As Purslow, Broughton and Commercial Director Ian Ayre marched out to be greeted by a posse of news crews and flashing camera bulbs, a rendition of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' broke out among cheers that were akin to a last-minute winning goal.
When Purslow and Broughton then made their way down The Strand to head off to the various board meetings which will take place today and tonight, they were pursued by supporters chanting “We love you Martin!” and “Christian Purslow!”
Across the road from the Royal Courts of Justice, the George pub was bouncing, almost like the Arkles would be after a heady Anfield success; a group of die-hard supporters had crowded around the television in the corner and roared their delight at the pictures being relayed.
The scenes were unique but, then again, everything surrounding Liverpool has been unique since Hicks and Gillett breezed into the club on February 6, 2007 – from admitting they had spoken to Jurgen Klinsmann behind Rafa Benitez's back, to the mountain of debt they saddled upon the club.
Soon, possibly within hours, they will be consigned to the history books and, as Mr Girolami admitted yesterday, they have accepted the time has come, to borrow a chant that has reverberated around the Kop for some weeks, to “sell up and go”.
Waiting to take his place is NESV owner John W Henry who tweeted shortly after the ruling “Well done Martin, Christian and Ian. Well done RBS. Well done supporters!” and that little gesture simply added to the euphoria of the moment.
This has been the most volatile, controversial and stressful period Liverpool have experienced but Broughton, Purslow and Ayre have fought ferociously to get Hicks and Gillett out of town and they are almost over the finishing line.
All credit to them.
“We just hope that it is all calm now and football can be the story once more,” said Purslow before heading off across the city.
“We want football to be the story for the next 10 years and with, no debt, there is a chance of that.”
All any Liverpudlian wants is for football to be the story.
Though Broughton and Purslow and, most recently, Lord Grabiner and Mr Justice Floyd, have been the hottest names on the lips of supporters, with the greatest respect, that has to change.
The sooner the Kop can get talking about Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, about Fernando Torres and Pepe Reina, about injury bulletins, forthcoming assignments and exhilarating performances on the pitch, the better.
Liverpool, quite simply, have on the news and business pages for far too long; all being well, this victory will be the catalyst for the most successful club in English football history to return to their rightful place - at the back of every newspaper.
Thank you one and all ... how important Today will be in the grand scheme of things is still a moot point ..... but for now we move on albeit a little more cautiously but nevertheless we move forward
What a great article, I rang nanny she said even their lawyer wasnt to pleased about them
fecking spot on mate! i'm going for a few bevvies tonight!! feck if i have a hangover in the morning at work,this day is like my kids being born-it's a day i will never forget an deserves celebrating in style!
WE FINALLY HAVE OUR CLUB BACK. Y.N.W.A
meself everyone was outside down the steps waiting . flashin lights cameras all waiting for Broughton to come out , I opened the big doors and evertone turned to look ha ha , just got down the steps before mayhem broke out with Broughton an Purslow ha ha ,A lot of very die hard passionate lads there today whod traveled down at 4 in the morning , they looked knackerd , but we were great Rob , Im only little yeh thatswhy the lads got me a chair to stand on 
by