EVERTON'S ALREADY uncertain future was plunged into turmoil last night when the British government called in plans for a new 50,000-seat stadium in Kirkby.
The decision to open the proposed €505 million development to public inquiry, and the rising costs associated with a 12-month delay to the scheme, is likely to kill the controversial move outside the city of Liverpool boundaries.
Club officials have refused to cancel a project that has bitterly divided Evertonians over the past 12 months and will ask Tesco, the major partner in the stadium and retail project, to meet the increased costs. Everton have stretched their resources to the limit to pledge €98 million towards the cost of the stadium, so without that guarantee the club's search for a new ground is expected to continue.
The announcement by the department for communities and local government represents a major setback for the Everton chairman, Bill Kenwright, who may now have presided over two failed stadium projects, after the collapse of the Kings Dock move five years ago. Kenwright admitted this week that the club desperately needed new investment to close the gap on the leading four teams in the Premier League, as he reiterated his willingness to sell to the right bidder yet again, and Everton had hoped a new stadium would help attract that finance.
A club spokesman said: "We are disappointed by the decision. Having spent more than two years working diligently on a project which would not only provide Everton Football Club with a new home but also regenerate Kirkby, we had hoped to avoid a government call-in. We shall now engage in detailed discussions with our development partners, KBC and Tesco, to assess what options are open to us. It is important to stress that this decision does not spell the end of the Destination Kirkby project, but it will, self-evidently, precipitate a period of reflection, assessment and re-evaluation."
Manager David Moyes's frustrations in the transfer market have continued after Stephane M'Bia insisted he would remain at Rennes and the Sporting Lisbon president, Filipe Soares Franco, said Joao Moutinho was unlikely to move to Goodison Park.
Setanta Sports launched their coverage of the English Premier League season at Wembley Stadium yesterday from where, on Sunday, they will broadcast the Community Shield, the traditional season curtain-raiser, between Manchester United and Portsmouth. The channel will have exclusive live coverage of 79 Premier League games this season.Saturday, August 16th
AUGUST GAMES ON SETANTA
Aston Villa v Man City (3.0)
Sunderland v Liverpool (5.30)
Saturday, August 23rd
Liverpool v Middlesbrough (3.0) Fulham v Arsenal (5.30)
Sunday, August 24th
Wigan v Chelsea (1.30)
Saturday, August 30th
Manchester Utd v Fulham (3.0)
Arsenal v Newcastle (5.30)
