Column

Deciding on the Ground Move

We are obviously preparing to be balloted in the coming month on whether we wish to move etc. I have monitored the situation carefully, and have hopefully weighed up as best I can the pros and cons of the entire issue. There will be masses of further info in the press over the coming weeks.

My main concern is the future of the club, and its ability to Stabilise and improve our financial position, possibly obtain the type of investment now being put into other premiership clubs, and thus attract players, more supporters and some success as a result. I strongly feel that we remain in the top 6 clubs in the country and we should exploit that position as much as possible, which sometimes I do not think we do effectively as a club. Indeed as football's gulfs grow bigger, now is an essential and vital time to be exploiting any popularity we have.

I am aware and indeed appreciate the great historic ties to Goodison Park and the City, I fully respect EVERY Evertonians opinion, but I have not seen a valid or viable argument against the move, when emotives are put to one side and progression and the future is seriously considered. History is, by its very nature, our past. It can never be erased, and should and will always be cherished. That said, we cannot afford to languish in our history as on occasion, that is the very attitude that will stunt progression. Financially the move to Kirkby seems to be a gift-horse that will put us on greater foundations for the future of the club.

We obtain a new state-of-the-art stadium, with great corporate and matchday facilities, for next to nothing. I also do not think it?s a bad thing to be closely associated with Tesco, arguable the biggest growing Supermarket entity in the World at present after Walmart.

I see the alternatives as none starters. To re-develop Goodison would cost big time, and whatever estimates may be given now, they are seriously undervalued and would spiral as every other re-build has done. There would be no investment for this option and the club would have to fund it. It would in any event still look like a poor relative to what Liverpool will build 100 yards away, which I think would have a negative effect on both our own supporters and visiting fans ("poor relative" syndrome again).

Sites within the City appear to have been limited to the old Taskers Site, without any assurance that Tesco or any other investor would assist with costs. Liverpool City Council may well give us it for free or reduced, as Kirkby, on arguably a much better site in terms of access and envisaged facility.

In making my decision, I will be thinking very much about my children, grandchildren etc. I would not want to leave them with a massive mortgage for the next 50+ years if we go it alone, for the sake of high emotions to stay at Goodison or in the City. I would much rather take the gift-horse, and put our money on the pitch right here and now, and play our games in a new state-of-the-art stadium in the Greater Merseyside area (like Man Utd, not in the city of Manchester).

When decisions such as this have to be made, the "Noise" that we hear is usually from the minority who feel very strongly about this issue. From the various forums, it is obvious that there is strong feeling against the move, whilst there is some arguing for it. These views I feel will be from the minority, and I think that the majority 33,000 that ballot next month with at least show a significant split in opinion. I think that this factor is all that will be required by our Bill, the Board and Kieth to propose that the club go ahead with the move.

He is already quoted as saying that the decision is ultimately with the Board, and I think that with the best will in the world the custodians have nothing to gain by placing the club in jeopardy and will make their decision based on hopefully lateral thinking and the successful future of Everton FC. I feel we must trust them on this issue, as not to suggests they are criminally negligent in the handling of our club!

I URGE THE BLUE BRETHREN TO THINK WITH THEIR HEADS AND NOT WITH THEIR HEARTS ON THIS OCCASION.

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