Liverpool's mayor continues row with Everton over funds for new stadium

Everton currently play at Goodison Park

THE row over Everton's hopes of moving to a new stadium intensified last night as the club was accused of having nothing in place for the proposed £300m scheme.

 

The Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, delivered a withering riposte to claims made by Everton chief executive Robert Elstone that the city council was not supportive of the venture to build a new ground in Walton Hall Park as part of a wider regeneration programme.

"What Everton FC refer to as "the Vision" requires in excess of £300m which Everton cannot yet show that they - or anyone else - have available," said Anderson in a statement.

"There is no regeneration scheme in place. There is no developer in place. There is no planning application.

 

"Once these are in place, of course we will support, facilitate and work together to move the project forward, in the same way that we did with Liverpool FC for their recent the Anfield stadium expansion.

"Let me re-iterate, we would welcome a regeneration scheme to consider but the fact is, at the moment, there isn't one. That is why there is no real progress to report." 

Liverpool City Council faces having to make huge cuts to services and Anderson added: "Some people seem to be forgetting that it is not the job of the council to finance and deliver a major regeneration scheme of the type proposed, including a potential new stadium for Everton Football Club. 

"Nobody should be in any doubt about the horrendous financial situation that the council is facing."