Prince Faisal’s interest in Liverpool is confirmed

Saudi businessman Prince Faisal has confirmed that he is interested in taking a stake in Liverpool Football Club, according to a key associate. Barry Didato, a director at the prince's investment vehicle, F6, told the BBC that Faisal would be holding talks with the club's two American owners next Tuesday, and that "his Highness's shareholding could go from anything from nought to 100 per cent".

However, Didato cautioned, the prince did not want to become embroiled in the strained relationship between co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks, which has derailed long-term plans at Liverpool, such as the move to a 60,000-seat stadium in Stanley Park. "His Highness would not want to get involved in [the pair's problematic relationship], he is not a marriage counsellor."

The complicated arrangement that Hicks and Gillett undertook on buying Liverpool in 2007 mean that neither of the pair - who both own 50 per cent of the club - are allowed to sell their stake without consulting the other. Gillett is known to have already been in negotiations with Faisal - as reported on The First Post last week - and the two said by Didato to have established a "chemistry and shared vision"

Prince Faisal, who was a guest of Gillett's at the club last month (above), is also concerned about levels of debt at the club. "[The prince] cannot be seen as a solution to the debt or problems in the existing relationship between the owners. The debt has to be at a manageable level before Prince Faisal would invest and the current level is high," Didato said. "He cannot be looked to as someone who is going to clean up the balance sheet - Gillett has to deal with this."

The turmoil in the boardroom at Liverpool is mirrored on the pitch, where the team has made a lacklustre start to the new season and faces a make-or-break spell of four matches in 11 days when the Premier League recommences after the international break. Manager Rafa Benitez could be sacked if the club is knocked out of Europe and the Carling Cup at an early stage. ·