The protracted ownership troubles of Liverpool Football Club took a fresh twist on Monday after it emerged that one of its US co-owners had hired advisers to review his assets.

George Gillett has appointed advisers in the US, Canada and Europe to look at his options. According to people with knowledge of the situation, one possible scenario is the sale of the Montreal Canadiens ice-hockey team in order to help Mr Gillett refinance his debt on his Liverpool stake.