UPDATE 1-Soccer-Hicks can seek damages over Liverpool deal

* Hicks wins legal battle

* High Court judge amends terms (adds details)

LONDON, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Tom Hicks, the American formerowner of Liverpool Football Club, won a legal battle on Thursdayto seek damages over the sale of the Premier League team lastyear to the owners of the Boston Red Sox baseball team.

Hicks and fellow American George Gillett pledged last yearto use all legal means to secure damages of at least$1.6billion over the contested sale of the club to John W. Henry'sNew England Sports Ventures for 300 million pounds ($483.8million).

Hicks and Gillett called the sale"illegal" and"anextraordinary swindle" but the board went ahead and sold thefive-times European champions last October, with the blessing ofmajor creditor Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS).

Hicks and Gillett said they had offered to pay outstandingdebt to the RBS but that attempt was rejected.

Hicks had sought to lift court orders which had preventedhim taking action in his home state of Texas to halt the deal inwhich he claims he lost 140 million pounds.

A High Court judge dismissed that application but amendedthe terms to allow Hicks to make applications in the U.S. insupport of any proceedings in this country if he gives sevendays notice to the parties he is suing, the Press Associationnews agency reported. (Editing by Ed Osmond)

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