Work on Liverpool's new stadium in Stanley Park will start next month.  New owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks, along with club chief executive Rick Parry, held talks with Liverpool City Council leader Warren Bradley and director of regeneration John Kelly at the weekend after which the green light was given to the redevelopment of Stanley Park.

A statement said: "Work on the final legal agreements between the city council and club is almost complete which will allow work on the new stadium to start next month under the existing planning permission granted last year."

A review of the initially proposed 60,000 capacity - which may be increased - is ongoing and tenders for the redevelopment of Stanley Park will be carried out this month.

Construction is hoped to start by the end of the July with a completion target of the end of 2008.

" A joint venture company will be set up by the end of this month to deliver the comprehensive regeneration of Stanley Park and the new community partnership centre," the statement continued.

"Tenders for the refurbishment of Stanley Park will go out in April with a contractor to be appointed and work starting by the end of July, with the work completed by the end of 2008.

"A review of the 60,000 capacity of the new stadium is being carried out by the club and consultations with fans are already under way."

As expected, the possibility of a groundshare with Everton has been closed.

"Today's announcement has effectively ended the possibility of a joint stadium for the city's two Premiership clubs," the statement added.

"Despite full and frank talks between the city council and the two clubs, the proposal had too many unknowns and would have created significant delays which could have put the entire new Anfield and Stanley Park project at risk."  PA