THEREDS: Liverpool takeover: The timeline

A definitive timeline of the Liverpool takeover saga that finally seems to be nearing its end.

2004: March - Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra is revealed to be interested in buying a stake in the club.

May - Shareholder Steve Morgan claims he has had two bids to take over the club turned down.

June - Shinawatra ends his interest in Liverpool.

August - Liverpool reject another takeover bid from Morgan.

December - Morgan abandons proposed takeover.

2006: December - Liverpool confirm they have "entered into a period of exclusive negotiations with Dubai International Capital about a possible investment".

2007: January - Liverpool reveal American businessman George Gillett has made an approach "which may or may not" lead to a takeover offer. Liverpool board meet to discuss Gillett proposal after deciding not to formally accept DIC bid. DIC pull out of takeover.

February: Tom Hicks emerges as joint bidder with Gillett. Liverpool agree to the terms offered by Gillett and Hicks to purchase the club's entire issued share capital.

March: Gillett and Hicks' Kop Football announces to the Stock Exchange they have met the acceptance condition of 75% required to secure unconditional control of the club. Gillett promises work on the new Stanley Park stadium will begin immediately, stating; "the spade needs to be in the ground within 60 days".

November: Manager Rafael Benitez and the owners publicly fall out over transfer targets. Gillett and Hicks tell Benitez to "concentrate on training and coaching the players he already has".

2008: January - Hicks admits they had made an approach to former Germany manager Jurgen Klinsmann, with a view to replacing Benitez.

April: It emerges that Gillett and Hicks are barely on speaking terms, making future planning at the club almost impossible.

2009: March - Chief executive Rick Parry, having been criticised by Hicks months earlier, announces he will be leaving the club at the end of the season.

June: Financial expert Christian Purslow is appointed managing director and tasked with finding £100m of fresh investment to help satisfy Liverpool's creditors with debts reported to be £237million.

2010: January - Tom Hicks Jnr resigns from the board after a foul-mouthed email rant at a fan. As a result commercial director Ian Ayre and financial director Philip Nash are added to the board.

March: New-York based private equity firm the Rhone Group make £110million bid for a 40% stake in Liverpool but Hicks and Gillett fail to respond within the deadline.

April: Hicks and Gillett put the club up for sale, and announce the appointment of Martin Broughton as interim chairman to oversee the sale. A requirement of major creditors Royal Bank of Scotland is a change on the new board, with Broughton, Purslow and Ayre having a majority vote to prevent the Americans blocking a sale.

May: Financial results for the year ending July 2009 show the club made a record pre-tax loss of £54.9million, with interest repayments on loans undertaken by Hicks and Gillett accounting for £40.1m of that.

October 4: Liverpool announce they have received two "excellent" bids. Hicks and Gillett try but fail to oust Purslow and Ayre to prevent a sale. The Americans claim the bids undervalue club and pledge to fight for a fair price.

October 5: Liverpool confirm they have accepted a bid, believed to be £300million, from New England Sports Ventures, who also own the Boston Red Sox baseball team. Sale would clear all acquisition debt but is subject to possible legal challenge from the owners and Premier League approval.

October 8: RBS secure temporary injunction preventing Hicks or Gillett making any changes to the board. Premier League give approval for NESV to become new owners.

October 12: RBS v Hicks and others hearing is held in High Court. The bank claim breach of contract, the owners claim the board have not considered all offers for sale of the club. Hearing is adjourned for a decision to be made the following day.
Singapore businessman Peter Lim submits new £320million bid and pledges £40million for January transfer window. Mill Financial, now the owners of Gillett's 50% share after he defaulted on a loan, also express interest in purchase, claiming their offer would also include £100million towards new stadium.

October 13: The High Court grants injunctions that could open the way for the prompt sale of the club. Tom Hicks and George Gillett's plea to delay the hearing of an application by creditors Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) for mandatory orders paving the way for a possible sale was rejected by Mr Justice Floyd, and the Americans were refused the right to appeal.

Source: espnstar.com