Henry declares joy at Liverpool purchase

New England Sports Ventures have officially confirmed their purchase of Liverpool during a press conference.

The owners of the Boston Red Sox have taken control of the club after Tom Hicks and George Gillett were defeated in their legal battle to stop the takeover.
Hicks and Gillett are promising to sue for more than £1billion but their hugely unpopular three-and-a-half-year rein at the club is over.
NESV said the club's debt servicing costs would drop from £30million a year to £2million-£3million.
As new owner John Henry made his first appearance before the cameras as Liverpool's new owner, massive cheers greeted him.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he said:" I am proud and humbled, but we have alot of work to do."
"I can't tell you how happy I am we have finally completed the deal"

When asked what his plans for the club was now that the club was in his hands, Henry said: " I think our actions will speak for us."
"It is too early to say what we are going to do, but we (NESV) have a tradition of winning."
Making a reference to his previous success with the Boston Red Sox, the American said: " We have a tradition of winning... the highest spending in the MLB."
When asked if Liverpool were going to build a new stadium to replace Anfield under his charge, however, he refused to comment.
With the derby against Everton looming on the horizon, Henry also told reporters that " I think it's better for our first experience with (Liverpool) supporters to be at home (at Anfield)", putting an end to rumours that he would be attending the match at Goodison Park.
Liverpool chairman Martin Broughton also said: " We've ( the Liverpool board) have always known that we're doing the right thing, and that we'd get justice."
When asked what his role at the club would be from now onwards after the purchase by NESV, he said:" For the time being, I'll be staying on in a transitional role, while John works out how he wants to run the club."
Henry also showed he was getting the hang of the British sense of humour. When asked how he was funding the takeover of Liverpool, he replied: " With pounds."
The statement by NESV with regards the takeover is as below:
New England Sports Ventures (NESV) today announces that it has completed the purchase of Liverpool Football Club. NESV wishes to extend its sincere gratitude to the board of Liverpool FC for their diligence and their efforts on behalf of the club and its supporters.
The transaction values the club at £300m and eliminates all of the acquisition debt placed on LFC by its previous owners, reducing the Club's debt servicing obligations from £25m-£30m a year to £2m-£3m.
New England Sports Ventures is committed to winning and currently owns a portfolio of companies, including the Boston Red Sox, New England Sports Network, Fenway Sports Group and Roush Fenway Racing.
NESV chairman Thomas Werner said:
"We recognise that Liverpool Football Club is an historic institution ultimately grounded in the community and the fans. Our first step as new owners will be to listen. We want to hear from the manager and the players and those who are part of the daily operation of the club. We will be visible at Anfield and will embrace and listen to those who have stood by this club and who are the rock on which its future success will be built. We want to hear from the fans, local leaders and the local community. We want to hear from those who know LFC best, who have made it the best and share our desire to return to a culture of winning."
NESV is committed to creating a long-term, financially strong foundation for the club and dedicated to ensuring the club has the financial resources to be successful again and attract the best players. To that end, the transaction has been structured in such a way as to eliminate all of the acquisition debt on the club.
In the coming days and months, NESV will work closely with the LFC executive team to listen and learn about every facet of the organisation. During this time, the new owners will begin to look at areas for greatest opportunity to increase the appeal of the club nationally and internationally. NESV wants to once again create a culture and environment to allow people to excel at the club on every front. During this period, NESV will also begin to examine opportunities to enhance the matchday experience in the short-term, while also carefully studying the various long-term options that may be possible.
Mr Henry and Mr Werner added:
"We are eager to commence with our plan, spend time with the organisation, its leadership, its supporters, and the local communities. We will take these steps alongside the club's executives with a shared objective of stabilising the club and ultimately returning Liverpool FC to its rightful place in English and European football, successful and competing for trophies."