STADIUM DEBATE | MEDIA ARTICLE

Everton offered move to Kirkby

KNOWSLEY council has offered Everton FC three prime development sites on which to build a new stadium.

Executives at the local authority are involved in a sustained attempt to tempt the club out of Liverpool to the Kirkby area.

Kirkby's municipal golf course is one of the sites the club have been offered, along with nearby land next to Kirkby sports centre on Valley Road, both close to motorway access from the M57.

It is believed Knowsley would provide the land needed either free or at a much reduced rate, so keen are they to attract a prestige deal which would prove a massive boost to the area's economy and reputation.

Cheap land and the possibility of the council accessing regeneration grants for work in and around the new stadium will be a major inducement for Everton, with the financing of the project still a major hurdle for the club to overcome.

Last night, a spokesman for Everton confirmed: "There are talks ongoing. We have a number of options." It is believed the former Cronton Colliery had also been put forward initially, but was dismissed.

The club is now considering using that plot for a new training academy for coaches, if it can secure the finances once their stadium plans have been finalised.

The Everton board has been approached with a number of sites since the collapse of the Kings Dock project in February, 2003.

Other options include land at Switch Island and a site in Speke.

A spokeswoman for Knowsley council said: "The council under-stands Kirkby is one of a number of options being considered by Everton FC at this stage."

Liverpool Council is keen to ensure the club stays in the city and officials are sure to be busy working behind the scenes to try to match any deals offered by its neighbouring local authority.

The club has still not officially committed itself to leaving Goodison Park, its home since 1892, but will make a formal announcement this summer.

Officials insist it is still considering plans for redeveloping the current ground or ground-sharing with Liverpool FC, although these are both now highly unlikely options.

Late last year, chief executive Keith Wyness was in talks with financial experts about funding a 50,000-capacity stadium costing around £125m.

Everton's financial position has improved in the past 12 months, giving Mr Wyness renewed confidence that a new stadium is again a valid option.

In November, Everton announced the best financial results in the club's 127-year history. Turnover rose by 34% from £44.7m last year to £60m.

Everton secured a place in the Deloitte and Touche top 20 world club rich-list for the first time, and finishing fourth in the Premiership brought a greater slice of prize money, with greater revenue from live televised games.

Profit after player trading showed a turnaround of £38.9m, from a loss of £15.4m to a profit of £23.5m.

© Trinity Mirror North West & North Wales Limited 2007