nicked from rawk Consortium tipped to rival Gillett bid by Ivan Terdin (Allied Newsline) A consortium with a mighty Australian Tycoon at the helm is looking to rival the Gillett bid for ownership of Liverpool FC, England's most successful football club. Jeff Sword, an Australian billionaire hailing from the steel trade, has teamed up with former Leeds United manager Howard Wilkinson as he looks to invest in a Premiership Club. It is rumoured that Sword and Wilkinson were looking into a possible purchase of Sheffield United but turned their attention to Liverpool when the Dubai based DIC pulled out of the running to purchase the club. Sword, a reclusive man by nature, has failed to comment on the speculation but Wilkinson did confirm the interest. "We feel that we are more appropriate investors in such a prestigious club than Gillett. We will offer a smoother running of the club." Wilkinson recently took offence to Rafa Benitez's comments in the media regarding the academy system in England but has moved to allay any fears that he would be looking to remove Benitez from manager if he takes up the post of footballing director under the new ownership. "No, it will not happen" stated Wilkinson. "When we move into place no one will bleed after we run through things and get to work".