Co-owner Tom Hicks looks for outside backing to take control of Liverpool

Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks is exploring how to take control of the club by acquiring all or part of George Gillett Jr.'s 50 percent stake.

The preferred option is to raise private equity, possibly for his entire sports group, people familiar with Hicks' plans told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.

The duo bought the English Premier League club for 218.9 million pounds (then US$431 million; euro333 million) as 50-50 partners last March, but Gillett is seeking to sell his share and Hicks is trying to raise money to become the majority owner.

Hicks alluded this week that Gillett was …