Cabinet interest in fans' bid

Burnham sees the proposed bid as a 'fascinating development'

Last updated: 31st January 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Cabinet interest in fans' bid

Burnham: 'Fascinating development'

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The Government's new secretary for culture, media and sport has revealed he is taking a keen interest in how the proposal by a Liverpool fans' group to buy the club turns out.

Andy Burnham, who took up his cabinet post this month, described the move as a 'fascinating development' and one which will 'test the water in the Premier League'.

His comments come after fans' group Share Liverpool FC announced their intention to raise enough cash to oust American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

The group are holding a press conference later on Thursday to give more details on how they plan to create a stakeholder base of 100,000 to buy the club.

Really important

Commenting on the situation, Burnham told Five Live: "Obviously we'll wait to see details but this is a fascinating development and it will be really important to see how it works.

"I was one of those who set-up Supporters Direct, an organisation with the aim to encourage supporters to take a greater share ownership in their own clubs.

"So far, it's happened mainly at a lower level. It had been a great success in the Football League and lower and this development will test the water in the Premier League."

Share Liverpool FC is led by Kop season-ticket holder and director of the Football Industry Group Rogan Taylor.

Eminent

Burnham added: "Rogan is very eminent in football matters and he pointed out that the Champions League has been won on six occasions by a mutually-structured club - the Barcelonas and the Real Madrids.

"It (the fans' proposal) is not necessarily incompatible with success."