hightown phil posted something on another forum about the company articles and a director can only be sacked with the chairman's permission. Hence the reason they weren't able to sack ayre and purslow and the subsequent legal challenge. EDIT: found it The Company Articles for The Liverpool Football Club and Athletic Grounds Limited set out the rules for the removal of directors in clauses 81 and 83. Clause 83 gives a list of valid reasons for the removal of a director, such as being disqualified by law, mental illness etc, none of which apply is this instance. Therefore a Director can only be removed in accordance with clause 81, which states "Any appointment or removal shall be made in writing and signed by the then current Chairman" It would seem then that Hicks and Gillett can't get rid of Purslow and Ayre without Broughtons permission, which given this statement clearly hasn't been given.