[lfc-news] Both clubs say a final no to joint stadium - Post

Liverpool Daily Post, 11 Jan 2005
Both clubs say a final no to joint stadium
Exclusive by Andy Kelly Chief Reporter

ANY lingering hopes that Liverpool and Everton football clubs will share
a stadium on Merseyside are now over.

The Daily Post can reveal that both have sent official notification that
they have rejected the idea to the Government, Liverpool council and the
North West Development Agency.

Walton MP Peter Kilfoyle, who brokered talks between the clubs and
Sports Minister Richard Caborn in December, confirmed last night a
shared stadium would not happen.

He said: "It is dead. The bottom line has always been that Everton did
not have the money to buy into a joint stadium.

"There was no mechanism to enable them to do it using public money and
it has always been a case of Everton trying to find £60-£65m.

"I don't think either of the two clubs at board level were ultimately
supportive of it either.

"One or two individuals on either side were in favour but it was not
enough because most were hostile."

It is understood that the boards of both clubs considered the matter at
the end of last week.

A spokesman for Liverpool City Council said last night: "It is
disappointing that both sides have been unable to reach agreement on a
joint stadium.

"However, the existing plan for a new Anfield is part of a major
regeneration of the Anfield and Breckfield area and we fully intend to
help deliver that because of the economic benefits it will bring to an
area which badly needs them.

"Of course we will also do everything we can to help Everton find a 21st
century stadium for the club and its fans."

Sources confirmed that rejections from both clubs had been sent to the
public sector agencies who had been trying to negotiate a shared ground
on Stanley Park.

A senior public source said: "There was a meeting just before Christmas
where the pros and cons were discussed by all parties. The boards of
both clubs met at the end of last week, Liverpool certainly with a
proper full board meeting at Anfield.

"Both clubs have now decided not to proceed and rejections have been
sent to all the agencies. The dream is dead, long live the dream."

Liverpool will now hope to proceed with the 60,000-seat stadium on
Stanley Park alone, although potential costs of up to £130m remain
prohibitive.

Everton too appeared to be looking to the future last night.

Chief executive Keith Wyness said: "If there is not to be a joint
stadium, it is good to think that in the future the city of Liverpool
would continue to represent a major centre of footballing excellence,
one that would boast two world-class facilities.

"We've said all along we had three options, a shared stadium, the
redevelopment of Goodison and a stand alone stadium of our own."

News of the final nail going into the joint stadium coffin will come as
some relief to fans of both clubs, who have generally been against such
a move.

Les Lawson, secretary of the Official LFC Supporters' Club,, said: "This
was never going to be feasible.

"Both clubs are quite happy with their separate identities and prefer to
stay that way. "There were too many imponderables."

It was a similar reaction on the Blue half of Merseyside.

Mike Crofton, head of the Birkenhead branch of the Everton Supporters'
Club,, said: "This news will be welcomed without a doubt.

"I think nearly all the people in our branch were against it, just as I
think most Liverpool fans were. We understand why the idea was raised
but the fans want their own identity."


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