Tom Hicks, George Gillett: Are Liverpool Co-Owners Broke?

Multi-million pound owners would normally suggest that there's cash in the attic as far as the saying goes, but is Liverpool's attic full of has-beens in the money situation?

In today's footballing world, let alone the whole of society, money happens to be one of the main ways to success and happiness. No matter who you were or what you believed, you would admit that money does make the world go around. Right? However is this the case for Rafael Benitez and the whole of the Anfield board?

Back in January 07, the plans were nearing finalisation, when Tom Hicks and George Gillett announced that they were to become the new owners of Liverpool FC with a takeover bid in the range of £300-£400 million.

Liverpool fans were in dreamland; With a great spine to the team, a tactical genius in the eyes of Rafael Benitez and a promising youth team, the final piece in Rafa's revolution was beginning to fit into place-the will to spend, and spend big.

Chelsea here we come?

Tom Hicks and George Gillett. Early preparation, interviews and background work would begin to surpass showing two American tycoons, both with a lot of money, with one owning the Texas Rangers baseball team and the Dallas Stars ice hockey club.

But as time went on and transfer day deadlines approached, Liverpool realised that maybe this wasn't the greatest of moves by Rick Parry and co.

Come summer 2007, and the £21 million transfer of Fernando Torres plus others, surely this was it, Liverpool could establish themselves as title competitors because they have spent so much money! Or have they?

Take Fernando Torres's transfer, plus transfers of other players bought in the summer transfer window of 2007. A total of around £40 million was spent. Or that was how it was portrayed to the public. If you consider transfers out plus the appearance in last years Champions league final, the total comes to around £35 million.

So here already we can see that only £5 million was out of the owners pockets, if that!

And as for this season, for the rumours that have been speculated in the press, the money doesn't seem to spreading either. Swap deals, ridiculous asking prices on players and the deliberate employment of free workers:

Did the new owners leave there money behind when they sailed over the pond?