Liverpool fans protest over future

By Mike Collett

LONDON (Reuters) - Liverpool fans protested against the club's American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett on Monday when their side took on Aston Villa in the Premier League at Anfield.

"Liverpool Football Club is in the wrong hands," chanted the crowd as the match started.

"If it ain't broke, don't Hicks it," declared one of several banners.

The protest was orchestrated by Liverpool fans angry about Hicks and Gillett's plans for the club and whether they intend to sell it to Dubai International Capital, the investment arm of the Dubai Government.

Hicks and Gillett, who bought the club 11 months ago for 220.0 million pounds, are trying to organise a 300 million pound refinancing deal with banks.

That would allow them to refinance their original deal, repay loans taken out to buy players last year and to commence work on a new stadium.

If the debt is not re-financed within the next three weeks, the interest repayments on it would rocket to around 30.0 million pounds a year.

DIC, who were outbid when Hicks and Gillett bought the club a year ago, are now widely reported by the British media to be considering a renewed bid.