Everton
FC E-mails 268 - Stadium Special 29
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Whatever
you think e-mail your views to info@bluekipper.com
According To Some Media Sources The Vote Went "Yes". Official Results Out Tomorrow (23/08/07) The Vote Just been watching Skysports News and i have just read on the ticker the following"Skysorts News understands the Everton fans have voted in favour of a move to Kirkby". I love Goodison Park don't get me wrong, when i first heard about this move i had a weird feeling in my gut. All Evertonians have known that Goodison park has been a massive part of Everton and if the above statement is true, we will all be sad to leave. We have got to look to the future for Everton and remember the past, we can't live in the past. The future is what matters and if that means a move away from our beloved ground then so be it. We can't get left behind, this is our club and we need to support the decision of the vote. The main thing now is to stick together. I have read all these e-mails about people going to stop supporting Everton if the move goes ahead. To me and many Evertonians, that is just wrong. If you love the club so much, you will follow them and support them wherever they play their football. I think Tesco is a great idea for Everton, this is a massive company who make billions in profit each year. To pass up on a chance to let them work with Everton on a new stadium would be suicide. Nil Satis Nisi Optimum - "nothing but the best is good enough", EVERTON F.C. DESERVES THE BEST, THE PLAYERS DESERVE THE BEST AND THE FANS DESERVE THE BEST. To the future!! Edd. (24/08/07) History Will Travel With Us First of all, i love Goodison Park, always will. Of course that's where all of our great history is stored. In this day and age we need to compete with the "Top 4" and one of the only ways of doing is to move onto bigger and better things. I would love it to stay in Liverpool, but if not i really can't see a problem with moving outside of Liverpool City. I mean, we will be further away that the red shite! This has got to be a bonus. Our history isn't going to go away, it will travel with us. I think we need this move. My opinion of course. Todd-Midlands. (23/08/07) Last Chance I
think that we all agree we love Everton Fc...We will travel to the end
of the earth to watch them play...I have argued the good points and the
bad points... I read Colin Fitz`s article and I have to agree there are
questions that need to be asked..The numbers don't add up...what is the
cost to Efc, etc... If we can build a stadium in Kirkby why cant we build
a stadium nearer the City Center, Either the Loop or Lambeth rd. Which
everyone seems to ignore. 'The Devil Article' That was one of the most outstanding pieces I have ever read about football finance and the way a modern premiership club is run. I have put forward these very points regarding Everton's move away from the city to anyone who would listen, mostly gut feeling and perhaps naive visions of where we should be geographically placed. It has come as a massive relief to realise with the hard facts you have stated that I was right to vote no. It just doesn't feel right, while everyone in the world are trying to attract people to vibrant city centre's we are trying to move away?? Your statement about the lack of hotel facilities at the new site because they are not needed speaks volumes for why we need to be where the revenue streams can be tapped. Not to a place where the current board can make a quick buck, which is the conclusion anyone with half a brain will have read between the lines of the condescending and bullying veiled threat that Mr Wyness called his 'Deal of the Century' The most heart breaking piece of your article was the realisation of the lack of business acumen of the current board in the King Dock debacle. You could not have come up with a better site for a sports stadium in the world save Sydney FC moving into the opera house. I sincerely hope the vote is no and we get serious people to run our club not wannabees who are trying to increase their wealth. Well done, I'll look out for more. Davyboy Blue. (23/08/07) Ground Debate Throughout the past months there have been many words written and spoken regarding whether we move or not. Terry Leahy's credentials as a Blue and a business man are apparent. Along with many others I have had my doubts over chairman Bill but having watched and listened to his heartfelt message on the official club website I hold my hand up. This is not some Birkenhead peanut vendor this is a true fan. I urge all fans to listen to what the man is saying.He has the interests of our club at heart. We are indeed lucky to have him as chairman. Could you imagine Peter Johnson or the two Vietnam war veterans from across the Park going to the lengths of having a ballot? I don't think so. Irrespective of how the ballot goes let us all heed the excellent words of Kevin Latham and stick together and move on as a Blue Wave. Jack Warner Lifelong Blue. (23/08/07) Ground Move Just
read Ian Macdonald,s letter, "Open
Letter To Bill Kenwright CBE" it is refreshing to see how he
views the people in charge of our great team, he is spot on with all his
observations. What is Wyness's agenda all about, getting a big fat bonus
for himself, if the Kirkby project comes off. Kenwright will recoup what
he has invested into the club and again make a nice profit, when he sells
after the club, sells it soul, heritage and future by moving to Kirkby.
Robert Earl is looking for a quick buck return, on what he has invested
into the club if anything. None of them will will have used there own
money, like the life blood supporter, who hands over his hard earned cash,
and follow the club through good and bad times. So we are going to be
leaving the city because the people in charge of our club have not had
foresight to keep pace with the big four clubs, who now dominate the Premiership. We don't Care What The Red Shite Say or do We? I
would just like to fully endorse Charlie Diakou's sentiments. Although
we all sing that we don't care what the red shite say... a lot of the
blues that have been writing in seem more bothered about the shite having
a go at us than our beloved blues moving forward. We can't afford to sit
and wait around for Liverpool Shitty Council to make false promises to
us. Neither can we sit back and watch our club sink into debt and potential
total obscurity if we try and fund things ourselves or fall further and
further behind in the premiership pecking order whilst we wait for some
get rich quick money launderer to throw money our way. It's just not going
to happen.The reality of things could be that we lose the likes of Mikel
if we are not progressing and I for one do not want to see that day when
the gorgeous one leaves us. Next you'll be telling me there's no Santa! Next you'll be telling me there's no Santa! Thanks Colin Fitz for that article. I previously had my head in the sand. If I'm brutally honest I was vociferous about hating the idea of leaving Goodison, but if we want to compete, etc etc, I would glumly accept this dawn of a new era etc, etc (whilst secretly inside I was excited about the possibility of a New Blue European Domination developing over the next 10 years). So my vote WAS a Publicly Reluctant Yes to Kirby (but a Secretly Excited Yes to Kirby). Now though, in the light of Mr Fitz's financial revelations, I feel the same way I did when I got my 1st pay packet and then realised just how much of it went to other people - tax, ins, car, petrol, £50 a week board to me mam (quite fair considering how much I ate, really). All my excitement, dreams and possibilities have just been obliterated. Yet I guess that the awful truth is better than it all going sour in a few years - and the truth should always be told to the People of The People's Club - so Colin - thanks. Even though it hurt to hear it. So now I've U-turned on the Kirkby project. NOT because I don't want a move, but because I DO want a move - a move in the right direction for Everton. Ok Keith, pen & paper out - if there's no plan B - time to work on plan EFC. Toby. (23/08/07) Why The Vote The biggest debate in my mind is "Why did the board go for a ballot in the first place?" They are the board, they are there to lead the club forward. If they believe Kirkby is right then they should have made a commercial decision and gone for it. I have only returned to Merseyside in 2002 but I seem to remember there was a ballot once before which if my memory serves me well; was a "total fiasco.!" Did the BBC ballot license holders over moving to Salford?" I don't think so. No matter what the outcome "If the board think this is the right move, then go for it." Keith Season Ticket holder. (23/08/07) Devil Loved the article. We need more like this. The (exiled) Duke of Bootle. (23/08/07) Praise The Chairman For The Vote DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT OUR CHAIRMAN , A MAN WHO HAS SEVERAL TIMES PUT HIS OWN MONEY AND REPUTATION ON THE LINE TO AID OUR BELOVED CLUB IN DARK TIMES WANTS TO BE REMEMBERED AS THE MAN WHO DESTROYED EVERTON F.C. ? ONLY DURING HIS TIME ON THE BOARD AND AS CHAIRMAN HAS OUR CLUB STARTED TO TRULY RECOGNISE OUR RICH HISTORY. THE CLUB NOW REGULARLY SALUTE OUR FORMER PLAYERS FROM YEARS GONE BY AT GOODISON ON MATCH DAYS. THE FORMER PLAYERS CHARITY FOUNDATION IS SOMETHING THE CLUB CAN TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN. THE CLUBS EFFORTS IN SECURING THE EVERTON COLLECTION SHOULD BE APPLAUDED , NO OTHER CLUB CAN BOAST SUCH A RICH HISTORIC ARCHIVE. WE HAVE IN OUR MOST RECENT SEASONS STARTED TO MAKE STEADY PROGRESS IN RECLAIMING OUR TRUE STATUS WITHIN THE ENGLISH GAME . ALL THIS FROM A CHAIRMAN WHO IS A FAN FIRST AND FORMOST AND A TRUE EVERTONIAN, A MAN I WOULD SUSPECT LOVES THIS CLUB SECOND ONLY TO HIS FAMILY . LOOK AROUND THE PREMIERSHIP AND SEE SOME OF THE PEOPLE IN CHARGE OF THESE CLUBS, WOULD YOU PUT YOUR TRUST IN THESE DODGY DEALERS AND 'JOHNNY COME LATELYS' ? OUR CHAIRMAN LIVES AND BREATHES ALL THINGS EVERTON YOU ONLY HAVE TO LISTEN TO HIM, HIS PASSION FOR THIS CLUB TO SUCCEED IS PARAMOUNT. HE LOVES OUR CLUB AS MUCH AS WE ALL DO. HE IS ONE OF US AND HE WILL STILL BE AMONGST US MANY YEARS FROM NOW. WHATEVER THE FUTURE HOLDS. IT'S TIME FOR CHANGE , IT'S A BIG STEP, AND IT'S TIME TO TRUST A MAN WHO WANTS THE BEST FOR THIS WONDERFUL CLUB WE ALL SUPPORT. VOTE YES. MICK POWER. (23/08/07) NO VOTING SLIP Has any one else in BLUEKIPPER LAND not received there STADIUM BALLOT FORM. I've been a season ticket holder since' 88. Do you think they've forgot about me, or am I part of the big secret where everyone's vote doesn't count and we move to KIRKBY anyway. Fuck them anyway. Same old EVERTON. FUCK everything up. Dean Farley. (23/08/07) Close Vote Hats off and total respect to Colin Fitz on his article. Of all the anti and pro bollocks that has been written about the impending “Titanic” of a move to Kirby this is THE STAND ALONE PIECE ON IT. All you limp thinking “Billy and Keith have only got our best interests at heart” tossers who have been bestowed a vote (which I still believe is a white wash) READ this article ,hope fully before its not too late. I still don’t know why I’m getting worked up (the Mrs is well fed up with it) because despite what nearly every opinion poll says about it being a definite no vote to Kirby. I predict that them two fixing bastards will come out and say that it was very narrowly in favour of a move to Kirby (say 54.2% for 45.8% against) WATCH THIS SPACE!!!!!!!!!!! Chris B (the original Wirral Blue). (23/08/07) Bellefield Just a quick question, Been a blue all my Life not sure on the Kirkby move as I love the day out at Goodison, But with us moving to finch farm and the talk of us building on bellefield why don't we just build our new stadium there? Cheers Chaps GREAT site. Richard. (23/08/07) Yes If I Could Vote The last time we moved ground a few people stayed behind and founded you know who. Better be careful this time! Anyway, I’d still vote yes if I had a vote. Alex Burmester. Porto, Portugal. (23/08/07) Vote Yes I
have been visiting Goodison for the last 26 years, 20 of witch I had a
season ticket (till i moved with my job to London). I am relocating back
in the new year and cant wait to renew my season ticket. I attended the
Wigan game this season and waited 25 minutes for a beer only to be told
that they's stopped serving!! My mate then went down 15 mins before half
time to get a pint, we finally got a pint 2 minutes before the game kicked
off, so we guzzled down the most disgusting pint of warm, not to mention
expensive, Chang I've ever experienced!! Vote Yes The discussions about the ground move have been going on for years. I must admit that my first thought has always been a big NO. But as time goes on, I’ve visited other grounds, listened to lots of different views and I realise what a tip our ground is. Yes we love it but it hardly represents our team well does it. We can’t afford to do it alone and here is the chance to get what we need at a price we can afford. Say no and we might loose the opportunity. Yes it will be a bit sad for the current generation but the next one will look at the new ground as we do Goodison. Lets think about the clubs future, once the deal is done the supporters can carry on supporting and the board can then keep focussed on progressing Everton rather than be tied up (as they must be) over the ever present stadium issue. Karen. (23/08/07) TC Tom Cannon was never elected "special advisor" to the board at any AGM !!!! This is just not true. He was nominated to be a director but withdrew his nomination on the evening of the vote……..a vote was never taken at an AGM on his "special advisor" role. He may have been appointed a "special advisor" by the Board but without a vote at an AGM, he has never had the backing of a full AGM and I doubt if he ever will. Regards. Harry Markham. Shareholder. (23/08/07) Back The Prof I have seen people referring to us becoming a laughing stock because our ground will be owned by Tesco. My job recently transferred back North from the sunny South and I recall vividly how concerned the Chelsea fans were when Mr Bates wanted to build a hotel and massive corporate facilities at Chelski. Did it destroy them as a club? I think not! Even without the input of the Russian, they were bringing in big stars and winning trophies. It certainly did not turn them into a laughing stock. We have to be realistic, WE ARE NOT WEALTHY!!! Where do you thing we are going to get the money to pay for a stadium ourselves? We will end up like Leeds ffs! To be honest, I don’t care where the new ground is, because I will not be visiting Kirby, Scotland Road or anywhere else on matchday, I will be visiting our ground to watch the Blues. Please read Professor Tom Cannon's open letter (on this website) and think. He is a clever bastard and a true blue. If he reckons the other options will ruin us, then I for one, am ordering my Tesco clubcard!! Brendan Murray. (23/08/07) Home is where the heart is I'm sick of Evertonians ripping into each other over the ground move, i think were loosing the plot, i'm a kirkby lad but even i don't want everton in kirkby, or the shitty bestway site, goodison is the only place for evertonians, kenwright and the board have already said in the past that goodison can be redeveloped but have not mentioned it since tesco came on the scene, all evertonians should let these fools who run our club know were we want to watch our team play football, we have got a great manager who is taking us forward and an ever improving team, so lets not end up at some souless arena with 36,000 fans and 20,000 empty seats, moving is not the answer, just ask bolton, man city, sunderland and many more, goodison is our home so i say redevelope and stay. coxy. (23/08/07) Speculate Does anybody know why EFC displayed a different diagram of the proposed stadium at the loop site on their website? the stadium on the EFC website is not the same design nor is it orientated the same way as that on the KEIOC website. in fact the stadium’s much bigger and appears to take up a lot more of the site and in fact doesn’t actually fit on there! Possibly there are some copyright issues? I don’t know I’m no expert, but I seriously doubt that anybody associated with the Bestway design would be hauling them before a judge to sue them for breach of copyright do you!? Or is it perhaps the fact the EFC spin machine was once again in full swing attempting to discredit the Bestway proposals and thus further promote the Kirkby move? Who knows I can only speculate, but I’ll leave you to make your own minds up. Littl. (23/08/07) Stadium Debate Keep Everton in the city. D. Ellam. (23/08/07) Loopy Site What
a load of CRAP. I've never seen anything so squashed into a tiny area
as that ground on the pictures. Its certainly comical to look at and borders
on the incredible. Its just wishful thinking and nothing else You would
be in real danger of being killed on Scotty, when you come out the ground.
It shite and I for one hate it. It would be a logistical nightmare. With
NO parking anywhere, which will certainly diminish support. Stadium Debate If Everton move to Kirkby, I dread to think what will happen to the area of Walton. Everton football club is, and has been a focal point for the area for over 100 years, and to just "up sticks" to Kirkby ill be disastrous. There is absolutely no reason why Goodison park cannot remain where it is. For gods sake, the main stand was built beginning during the championship season of 1969/70 and the following season of 70/71. And the new park end stand was built during the 93/94 season. So why cant the Street end be demolished and have a new three tier one built? Then the next season, the Bullens rd demolished and again rebuilt with three tiers? The park end could have another tier placed on top. This would easily accommodate 50,000 plus. And as for all the bollocks regarding traffic problems getting to and from Goodison. Remember, the Shite are having a stadium 1000 yards away. The roads seem good enough for them! Please, everyone, vote NO to Kirkby. Everton are the peoples club of Liverpool, not West Lancashire! WE BELONG HERE. ITS OUR CITY, OUR CLUB, OUR HOME! Tonytaxi, Born and bred blue blooded Evertonian scouser. Streetennder since 1970. (23/08/07) Conspiracy Theories I
love a good conspiracy theory as much as the next man, (i even saw a documentary
on SKY about how the Titanic didn't sink!!) but some of the nonsense being
spouted at the moment is dragging the good name of the club and its supporters
down to new levels of desperation. I have tried to keep an open mind on
the ground move and have read and listened to arguments from both sides,
but lately the anti-new ground group have sounded like screaming 4 year
olds desperate to get their own way. We have to deal in facts, were are
the facts the evidence to suggest the Board at Everton are corrupt, liars,
crooks haters of Everton? Where are the facts that the Board at Everton
have deliberately ignored other sites? Where are the facts that Liverpool
City Council offered Everton other sites (by which i mean concrete plans
detailing financial expenditure etc) ? Kirkby Window Of Opportunity Can't you see all the talks of a back up plan and redevelopment so were do you think this 150million+ is going to come from? Its not! Who is going to invest in a club who needs 150million straight away before even thinking about bringing in new faces, if we move to kirkby it opens a window of opportunity we can't say no we just simply can't afford it! Connor. (23/08/07) Yes To Kirkby Hope everyone of you trying to throw a spanner in the works of progress are going to stand up and be counted if the Ballot goes in favour of staying at Goodison...... Think: The Shite in a spanking new stadium even closer to Goodison dwarfing us in our crumbling shithole (which for all it's memories - faced with the rest of the Premier League that's what it is). Don't you think we'd have had investment for our current site or another site within 'Liverpool' (For Fucks sake Kirkby has an L - That's L for Liverpool - postcode) by now if it was feasible? FACT - The majority of us fans know nothing about Stadium Design and associated safety/access features, leave it to the people who do and I'm talking about proper feasibility studies not some super imposed tat drawn up by KEIOC or their associates with no regard to access and other facets of Stadium design. Who voted for these KEIOC punters to represent us 'fans' anyway......???? We're in our best position on the pitch for numerous years so the men in charge have not made too many wrong decisions. Think with your heads guys, not your hearts............... One seriously pissed off Blue - (Who can't believe some of the shit being spouted currently - I honestly thought we had some of the most knowledgeablefans around, having read some of these articles I'm actually ashamed of the naivety levels of some people). Martin Roberts. (23/08/07) Scotland Road Is Loopy - Yes To Kirkby A
few points on the 'Loop' Stadium proposal
Sorry I am being a bit skeptical but I am getting fed up of councilor
Bradley realising at the last minute he's cocked up and forget to provide
Stadium Dear Evertonians, my name´s Ferràn and I support EFC since I saw them play bloody Real Madrid back in 1988, of course I´m catalan and the most hated teams in this world for me are Liverpool and Real Madrid. Well, I stand against moving away from Goodison, I haven´t been there since Jan.1997 but I feel the atmosphere is still fantastic, as it´s always been. If we moved, please make sure we won´t play our games in a standard stadium with the likes of Southampton, Bolton, Boro... Those stadiums look all the same place, Everton deserve a stadium with feeling and making all evertonians feel as if they were at home. If anybody wants to correspond with me via e-mail, please make everybody know. Thanks for all, and have a great season. Ferràn. (23/08/07) Debate Coming from Belfast as I do, I've (until now) held back from voicing my opinion about the Stadium debate. For what it's worth, Kirkby is just Liverpool to me, and it doesn't matter what postal code it has. It's a shame to move out of Goodison Park, for purely nostalgiac reasons. But it was on the cards for some years so lets just take it on the chin and look to the future. Having just seen the Scotland Road plans though, I have to say that this is more appealing to me than the Kirkby move for very superficial reasons - It looks class. Plus I've always worried about having official Tesco branding over the door at the new stadium. Let's face it, they are gonna want major brand placement on the front facade, and that's gonna look like shite and cheapen the image of the club. So is the Loop plan a goer? MBE did a really good piece on the stadium move last time, so maybe he could do another on the feasibility of Scotland Road? But if it's all just wind and piss then I would favour a move to Kirkby for practical reasons. EVERTON 4 THE PREMIERSHIP!! Stevie, Belfast. (23/08/07) No Loop Is no one listening Tesco are not interested in the roundabout (loop)!! We cant afford to move on our own we need the money!!!!!!!! Dave Cunningham. (23/08/07) The Money The Bestway stadium looks great but can I ask where's the money coming from (Everton or Bestway). Can some one please tell me. Lucy. (23/08/07) Talk Is Cheap A New Stadium Isn’t Right, this is how I see it,I support Everton, not Walton, not L4 & not Liverpool City Council. If Everton moved to Scotland I would still support them and watch them week in week out. As the song goes ‘We’ll support you evermore’. I’ve heard from a few people that will not follow us to Kirkby, now is this really because they don’t want to move or because they can’t be arsed traveling??? For us to redevelop or build our own land, the cost is immense. We struggle as it is to pay the bills never mind having to find extra millions. I really do believe we need to think logically not logistically. We’ll support you evermore…talk is cheap….a new stadium isn’t. Charlie Diakou. (22/08/07) Article by Colin Fitz I am writing to congratulate Colin Fitz on his article regarding the vote on our proposed ground move. In my opinion it is without the most sensible, honest and comprehensive article I have read on this subject. If the board of Everton Football Club had the bottle to do so, they would immediately replace Keith Wyness with Colin Fitz and hand over the CEO position to someone who clearly knows what he is talking about. Kevin Cliffe. (22/08/07) The Devil is in the Detail Well
done Colin Fitz - a superb article
- the best I have read for not moving to Kirkby. I feel that there has
not been enough transparency regarding the Tesco/Kirkby deal from Everton
and the issues and consequences regarding such a move have not been debated
fully in a public forum. Everton are in effect asking people to make a
crucial decision on our future without all the information. Vote Yes Great
website. I have been supporting Everton for 35 since my uncle first took
me to a match when I was 7. I still remember the smells and sights of
that day sitting/ standing on a wooden seat in the Bullens Road Stand
trying at times to see around a pillar !! Goodison Park is fantastic,
old, full of memories for many many Evertonians - myself included -but
I feel that we have to decide on this vote with our heads not our hearts.
It seems to me that the finance for the move to Kirkby is more sensible
and practical than any of the other options being proposed at present
and I believe it would a big mistake to not vote YES and tell the Board
that we are not interested in the move. I say this in the hope that whatever
the outcome of this vote the Board will appreciate the depth of feeling
within the fans and will at least give the other options a fair appraisal. On the banks of the royal blue alt The matter of Kirkby as the future home of EFC has become an emotive issue. To the speccy's who voted yes you've had your vote you have exercised your opinion and bollocks to the city of Liverpool. To the fan's who voted No thank you, i'm so proud that Everton fans from both within and outside the city boundaries can see the bigger picture of what's happening. Your culture is based around the city of Liverpool and you saw it, you know it, you never bought the kirkby 'lit up at night ' stadium scenario. You realised this board closed the city centre store shop and symbolically give up a presence (as a multi multi million shopping centre was being built). I admire your tenacity, spirit, you realised that singing "if you know your history" even when we played really dire football and the reds were on blob made you resilient, you believed in the club. And then the icon of the last decade of Goodison Park Mr D Ferguson backed you up when stating that Everton are the club of this city and from day one he felt at home and we should stay. You see you never fell for the undecided stadium costs or blamed the council for our financial problems jesus you were that savvy, you knew it was our unaccountable board (both current and past members) who had mismanaged the club's finances since 1990 as football finances were on an upward curve with the premiership etc. Your good damn good and when the vote comes in and a club source 'leaks' via the Echo the unforeseen spiraling costs for Kirkby stad2 you'll be able to look around and say "Don't you dare start moaning cause this is what you, Bill, Tesco Tel and Keith wanted" as the guy who sits behind you walks in late due to problems parking, cause Tesco don't allow you to park in their car park on matchdays. "On the banks of the royal blue alt" thanks but no thanks. DARREN MCGAVIN. (22/08/07) Vote Yes I am a blue through and through. But I don’t happen to live in Merseyside, I live in York. I have been studying this argument for sometime and the pure narrow mindedness and seemingly selfish nature of some (I sincerely hope not most) strikes me as crazy. I support Everton for many many reasons, born of the simple love of everything pure and passionate that Everton Football Club stands for. I love EFC because we are the best team to support in the country. Not being a scouser, having a scouse accent, never having spent much time in Merseyside (apart from going to games year in year out for the last 20 years) I ALWAYS feel welcome in the stands, in the pubs, around the ground. The spirit of the people, the atmosphere in the ground and the respect the fans have for other fans (wherever they are from) sometimes astonishes me. It is for these reasons I am hugely proud to associate myself with Everton Football Club. Unfortunately I haven’t held a season ticket for 4 years as work took me to London – so unfortunately I don’t get to vote. My take on Kirkby is fairly simple. We have no money – whether these other hastily drawn up and seemingly financially unsound proposals for the Loop and Goodison are accurate, where are the finance proposals? What if we ditch Kirkby, and then find (which we probably will) that we can’t afford to redevelop Goodison, or move to the loop? Future plans go tits up, we don’t move, can’t find an investor because the ground holds no value and we stagnate. Do I want to see EFC move because it’s actually going to save me 15-20 minutes travelling on a match day? No, that would be selfish and irresponsible. I’d travel twice the distance if I had to. Do I want to see EFC stay because I’m worried about atmosphere in these “new grounds”? No, The millennium Stadium and St Marys have a great atmosphere – and we have the best fans in the world. Bingo. Do I want EFC to move because this is will be the one thing that will support Moyes in building on years of blood sweat and tears in building a team now capable of seriously challenging the top 4? Yes. We Stay We Stagnate – and all for a measly 3.5 miles. Fans will travel to matches, if its a problem stay at home, watch it in your local. As far as everybody outside Liverpool is concerned (which is a lot of us, including Bluenoses!) Kirkby is Liverpool, is Merseyside. An invisible political line is irrelevant. I even hear someone talking about abuse from Redshite fans – “the only team in Liverpool” etc. Is this REALLY a problem, are you joking??? Since when have we let that bother us!! Would you rather that and we compete toe to toe with them every season, at home AND in Europe? I would... We Move We Improve – better ground, more income, better players, better games, more winning, more trophies. More money, better players, better games more winning, more trophies... etc etc. Isn’t that really what everyone wants to show the rest of the world how damn proud we are of the best team and best supporters in the country??? Let’s move – and bring the history with us – in the fans, the chants and the memories. We have to move – my vote (would be if I had one) an overwhelming YES (and boy would I love to have one) – please don’t let the dream die for the sake of a couple of insignificant miles; for a purely political boundary – football should have nothing to do with politics. Let’s back the move and give Little Mickey a ground where he can really show us what he’s made of, on a stage to put us alongside the best stadia and teams in the world. Lee W - York. (22/08/07) Kirkby = Large investment If we all vote with our heads and not our hearts we will be moving to Kirkby, I have been involved in deals for two Premiership clubs as well as lower league clubs in the last two years, our clients for both premiership and one Championship club looked at Everton prior to investing in their current clubs. Now the reasons it never went any further is quite simple, they are business men not Evertonians, which means they want a return on their investment ASAP and are not doing it for the love of the club, It would take way to long at goodison for them to get a return on their investment even if Everton were winning things, therefore a ground move would have to happen. To
invest in Everton at goodison you would need:- To invest in Everton at Kirkby you would need; _ The
purchase price Possible return in 12 months if you have a winning team (this is what 97% of investors would be looking at) If Everton move to Kirkby in a new ground with a very small amount of debt they would be the most attractive club in the premiership to an investor without doubt, this would be mainly because the investment would only be needed in the playing staff, which is the area that investors want to spend the money on, as this is the area that will give them a return on their money, if it takes them 4 years to build a ground this is a lot of time to wait for a return. So unless a very very wealthy Evertonian comes in the investors will keep overlooking you and Everton football club will keep falling behind the others. Regards. B Boyd, London. (22/08/07) City Limits - Vote Yes Your site is by far the best for coverage of the new stadium issue, so it’s the obvious place to try and have my say. My story is no different than thousands of others. 30 years of supporting The Blues. 70’s rough, 80’s unbelievable, 90’s pretty grim on the whole, 2000’s promising, so what will we see 2010 and onwards???? When you speak to any Everton fan we all have our stories of Goodison. We all have our match day rituals. Drink in your favourite Pub, make your way to the ground, sit in “Your Seat”, and make sure you are in before Z Cars comes on. So I like many others will cry buckets of tears should the day come when we have to leave. Most of us have read everything we can get our hands on, on the new stadium issue and I think people can see that the prospect of redeveloping Goodison is the proposal that provides the most headaches and would probably be the most costly. That said, it would seem inevitable that we will move away from Goodison at some point. Everton, as a professional Club, have only ever played either side of Stanley Park, so what’s to say that any other location is more appropriate. Ask the question “would you rather our Home be Speke, The Loop, Goodison or Kirkby” and you will get four different answers from four different people. Where the Club have gone wrong is that they haven’t given us any alternative. If the vote was, choose Kirkby or “Plan B” then the choice would be much easier. If we could see hard evidence that any “City Limits” site would not present the same level of third party contribution then we would surely all have to come to one conclusion. I do not subscribe to the conspiracy theory that people are only looking at the Knowsley option in order to feather their own nests. We are led to believe that Bully has no shares option, so that isn’t an issue and If Blue Bill was in it for the money he would have cut his losses and flown the coop long ago. We were all up in arms when we found out the level of debt that Agent Johnson had left us in, when he did a runner back over the water. Yet now huge numbers of Evertonians are prepared to put us back in that kind of debt, just so they can stay within the “City Limits” If you don’t want your club to be crippled by £50Million of extra debt and in the absence of a “Plan B” I urge you all not to let this opportunity slip by. “Vote Yes” regards Stuart. (22/08/07) Open letter from Sir Terry I've just been in Tesco Warrington! Big deal! The roof was leaking in three places; so much for Barr Construction. Say no to Kirkby! Yozzer Hughes. (22/08/07) The great debate…..The peoples’ vote…..The big con. The decision should be ours – the club have promised it. Everton Football Club has issued 33,000 Evertonians (as usual cocked that up) the chance to decide our family home for the next 125 years ….or have we? The club have led us to believe that they are honest, open and trustworthy – I don’t believe a word of it! Why then have they spent a fortune on glossy brochure including players’ beliefs that we need to move to Kirkby, including two of our best players who have signed new contracts on the back of the new ground move – THEY WON’T BE HERE WHEN IT’S READY - it’s not true. Why are they attempting to blackmail us into a move to Kirkby – Kirby or nothing – no plan B, don’t let them kid you, if there is no plan B they are not doing their job. There is a possibility of re-developing the old lady and there are suitable sites within the Liverpool City boundaries. Consider it, don’t rush into anything, we are not moving house, we can’t decide to move again in a few years time – THIS IS FOREVER. The move should not be driven by free hand outs from local councils and profit driven companies, who expect nothing in return. Who in their right mind would want to be influenced by Tesco – new image? new colours? (blue, white and red) and maybe even a new motto? (I wish I new the Latin for ‘every little helps’). Consider it! Years from now. Your child, or grandchild on holiday with a new friend. Who do you support? Everton! A perfect response with a certain amount of pride. Where’s that? Kirkby! Where? Knowsley! Where’s that?....By Liverpool! – give me a break! It just doesn’t sound right. Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against Kirkby, or the scousers who live there and it’s not a fault that they are located within the district of Knowsley and not in Liverpool – it’s a fact. The club need to slow down sit–back and take stock…. What’s the hurry – they have already lost the Kings Dock dream through poor management and pie-in-the-sky ideas of grandeur without the finances, that didn’t seem to be too much of a concern to them – IT DID TO US. That was my biggest disappointment in the thirty five years watching the blues – we do get used to cock-ups with Everton FC and I’ll be expecting many more in the future. If we are getting pressured from outside influences, Knowsley Council or Tesco (ha) – pull out, don’t let them get away with it, we can manage without them - we have done so far. I have to once again question the ability of the board and in particular Mr Kenwright - yes he’s a blue, so am I but that’s not enough in 21st century top flight football. I am waiting for the Everton spin doctors and Mr Kenwright knocking on our doors, securing votes and kissing babies’ heads for photo opportunities. This is not a democratic vote but a re-enforcement of a decision already made and I believe that the club are playing a very dangerous game – or they are 100% certain of the result (which is probably the case). Make your vote, but do it as a fully informed as possible, don’t be bullied by the club get the facts – demand the facts. The club have given us little information so far and offered us no alternative – that stinks to high heaven. The vote according to the club is: Kirkby or nothing, if that is the case then the next vote should be: the current board or not – that would be a democratic vote… that will be the way forward for Everton Football Club and you don’t need to be a genius to guess which way my vote would be. Does Knowsley need a stadium or has Liverpool got enough Tesco’s? Stephen Woods. (22/08/07) Why the vote? Having just sealed the envelope on my YES vote, I am now wondering why the club are putting themselves through this? It is stating the obvious that we need to do something about our stadium, I remember when Goodison was something to be very proud of. Not just in terms of atmosphere and character but due to it's facilities and size. But since those days it seems every other football club has moved on and with the exception of the Park End (which was done on the cheap, was it not supposed to be a double tier stand originally?) we have not. Therefore the question is how do we best redevelop our ground? The 2 options are simple, redevelop Goodison or move to a new ground. The first option according to the club is not feasible. So we have to move. Out of all the different alternative locations and schemes the club say Kirkby is the best option. I consider myself to be a moderately well educated person yet even with all the figures presented to me I still find it hard to decide if moving is the best option. Basically because I do not know the first thing about running a business or a football club and probably a lot of us don't either. So I have had to put my faith into the hands of Wyness and Kenwright, wise move based on their track record? For me yes I do believe that they have Everton's long term interests at heart. So that brings me to my point, is a no vote in effect a vote of no confidence in Kenwright & Wyness?? Why have they not got the courage of their convictions and gone ahead with the plan anyway??? Are they just getting us to vote yes so if it all goes wrong they can share out the blame???? Where's the kettle, I wonder if I can steam open the envelope. Blue Pride. (22/08/07) If Stubbsy says yes Alan Stubbs says he would reluctantly say yes to Kirkby because although he does not want to leave Goodison he feels it is best for the club to progress. That's good enough for me. No more to be said. Anyone want to argue with him? True Blue forever. Derek Pulford. (22/08/07) Vote Yes For Me I am a longstanding Evertonian, first match 1952, but I have never held a season ticket, therefore I find myself unable to vote on this most important issue in my long years as a fan. I will keep this short and simple. All those eligible to vote, please do not let your hearts rule your heads, look at the proposition on the table, compare it with the pie in the sky alternatives, ask yourselves if you can really trust Bradley and his cohorts on the R.S. loving city council, then give Blue Bill and the board a resounding YES !! Try telling the wonderful people of Kirkby they aren't Scousers, yer 'aving a laugh. Norman Patt. True Blue for sixty years. (22/08/07) Vote Yes Twice I got back from my holiday and have been sent 2 ballot papers. Is someone else missing out? Is the club thinking I will vote YES twice? Anyone else got 2? I'm still on the fence. We need a new stadium, better corporate facilities, new staff facilities, increased revenue but to remove the heart from the Everton / Walton area is, in my view, not the answer. think about the community we will leave behind. Spirit of the Blues. (22/08/07) Still Undecided Having read nearly every post on nearly every forum on this issue for the last couple of months I honestly still cant make my mind up.The one thing that keeps coming back to me whenever I'm just about ready to accept the inevitable and agree with the move is the horrible fact that the r/s are going to be the only team in the city. I know this shouldn't matter to us blues as the song says...But it does matter, it really does. I don't even live in Liverpool. I live 200 miles away and get to as many games as i can and have done for over 20 years.The only thing that would of swung me to a yes vote would of been a new stadium in Kirby with a capacity of at least 60000 and something that was awe inspiring,as it is the new design while being good isn't exactly Wow factor when you compare it to the new shite hole that's going to be built on STANLEY PARK.Out of the city with a worse ground than them. And before anyone comes back to me and says 'We ve got no choice we have to move,the ground will be dirt cheap' Yeah great i know that but isn't our motto NIL SATIS NISI OPTIMUM FFS. Whatever happens I'll be a blue till i die and so will my son. Nick Heady. (22/08/07) LCC Worst Council In World I’ve just been reading Keith Wyness’s write up about Liverpool city council (probably the worst council in the world). Stating we have never been offered the site at the loop until two weeks ago, and that the council had offered us a site in Aintree. Now correct me if I’m wrong but Aintree is outside the city boundaries is it not? It's in sefton? As is Bootle, Crosby, Maghull! It’s the same borough as southport! SO WHATS THE PROBLEM WITH KIRKBY! Tony Forsyth. (22/08/07) We Need The Move Just
thought I'd say that Mickey Blue
Eyes hit the nail on the head with that last post. All the talk of
moving to better oneself, be it moving house or getting a new job etc......the
problem is, there are always people who are set in their ways and see
no reason to change until it's too late........at which point they promptly
blame everyone else for the predicament they find themselves in. The predicament
I'm talking about is Everton in the Championship......or League One.......just
take a look at the likes of Leeds United......enough said. Do The Maths These fools who believe Wyness about the money situation are going to be made to look like bigger fools. The money we are inevitably going to spend on the kirkby project could be used to re-develop GP. LFC new stadium £360 mil, Kirkby stadium £125 mil? Do the maths,Tesco offer 50 mil we find the rest but end product will be nearer 200 mil so spend less than 150 mil on GP and it will cancel out loss of revenue when stands are half built. By the way scrap the 40000 m2 of retail space around stadium, Wyness keeps bleating about. 'Deal of the century' and 'little or no debt'. Andy True Blue. (22/08/07) Take The Move All this talk about moving out of the Liverpool boundary, I'm not sure what all the fuss is about really. Surely we all know that places like Kirkby, Huyton etc etc are basically the overflow from Liverpool, Most of us will have been born in Liverpool anyway. Boundaries change Liverpool etc was part of Lancashire at one time. I remember think around 01.04.74 it was was changed again and Merseyside took in Liverpool, Knowsley the Wirral Sefton and St Helens. So what does this mean? The new ground will be outside of Liverpool. Boundaries are man made. Take the move and lets all move forward to a much brighter future with this current team and manager which we have who are the business. TIDMS. (22/08/07) LCC Can't Match Knowsley Offer I can't name this fella for legal reasons but he replied to my question of why we can't move to walton: I agree with you over Walton Hall Park, the area the opposite side of the Sports Centre would be ideal and has been looked at as a possibility. The council have discussed a number of options with the club as (despite reports in the press) they are intent on keeping the club in the City, the Leader of the Council and the Head of Planning are both massive Blues fans, which I think is adding an extra something to the Council’s attempts to find a solution. The
major problem facing the Council is that the attraction of the Kirkby
site is that the club will not have to buy the land, Knowsley are offering If I can help in any other way please let me know. As a huge fan myself, I don’t want to see the club move out of the city, but certainly the ground is looking a bit tired in comparison to other stadia, certainly the Bullens Road has had its day, and I would rather the club make a decision on whether to move or not, rather than spend money on new stands that may be open for only a couple of years or so. What I would like to see in any new ground is elements of the present such as the criss-cross pattern of design on the Bullens, so that although a new era, elements of the tradition are retained. Hopefully (unlike other clubs) EFC will take this on board rather than just pushing for the Tesco money, but I get the impression that the board have decided that Kirkby is the way forward, and the biggest obstacle for the city council is getting them to change this mindset. As a planner, I have to be honest and say in planning terms the Kirkby proposal is more attractive than potential sites in the city boundary, but as a supporter I don’t want the ground to end up like Bolton’s (in the middle of a motorway) or Derby’s (in the middle of an Industrial estate) which are the most dull, boring, and soulless grounds I’ve ever been to. I think the efforts of the council will continue to keep them in the city, but unfortunately there are people within the higher realms of the club who do not understand the traditions of the club and links with the city. Sean Fitzsimmons. (22/08/07) Let's Go To Kirkby Where is Leighton from? Kirkby! Local lad we say so Kirkby is local for him but not for the stadium. Think fellow bluenoses Kirkby is part of the pool always has been. Let's go. Helen. (22/08/07) Vote What an excellent article by Mickey Blue Eyes: I would condense it down to one man (sorry, person) one vote. It is yours alone to use, so make it count! Jim Farley. Redditch supporters club. (22/08/07) Pretty
soon we'll know the result of the stadium vote, and whichever way it goes
I suspect that it will put some noses seriously out of joint. Just to
nail my own colours to the mast before I go any further I'm firmly in
the 'no to Kirkby' camp, by the way. But what worries me is that the result
won't put an end to all the arguing and slagging off of fellow Evertonians
that's gone on over the last few weeks, all that will probably continue,
sadly enough. YES to kirkby Can't you see all the talks of a back up plan and redevelopment so were do you think this 150million+ is going to come from? Its not! Who is going to invest in a club who needs 150million straight away before even thinking about bringing in new faces, if we move to kirkby it opens a window of opportunity we can't say no we just simply can't afford it! Connor. (21/08/07) Ballot Database Inaccuracy I appreciate that giving supporters the chance of expressing their views via a ballot is above and beyond what you had to do as a management team, but if you are going to do it, for heaven's sake get it right! I'm a season ticket holder (Client Ref 20865), and as I haven't yet received my ballot paper I rang the Electoral Reform Society as directed on the official website. I gave the ERS my name and Client Number, and was informed that they did not have my details on their database. It appears that they now have to manually check with Everton Football Club that I should be receiving a ballot paper. The incompetence astounds me - how difficult can it be for you to get an accurate list of season ticket holders - you've just posted out the Seasoncards?! I expect that, no doubt, that the discrepancy will be soon sorted out and I'll get the opportunity to express my opinion shortly. However, if you cannot get a simple data transfer like this correct, it casts doubt on how the validity of any outcome of the ballot can be assured. I would be grateful if you would explain "what went wrong" in my case and provide an assurance that there is are not wholesale inaccuracies in the data that has been provided to ERS. Regards. Paul Hughes. (21/08/07) Debate I've
just received my voting form and a copy of 'The Future for Everton' and
at first I thought there must be some pages missing because I thought
that Wyness said it would contain the benefits of moving to Kirkby! Finally
located a small list and it raises more pertinent questions than it answers.
The biggest question for me is 'Do you Mr Wyness have a clue about what
your customers want? It promises nothing and I think we should stay where
we are until something else comes along, besides how can you trust someone
like wyness who can't even develop one of his income streams consistently
from a replica sports shop in the heart of Liverpool. What happened there
Keith? What happened at Ellesmere Port and Birkenhead? OPEN LETTER TO BILL KENWRIGHT CBE
EPITAPH TO EVERTON FC There has been so much written about whether or not the Club should move to Kirkby. However, what surprises me is that no one seems to have mentioned the apparent conflict of interest which the major shareholders of the Club face, when acting in their capacity as directors of the Club. Kenwright, Woods and Earle are major shareholders. Not unreasonably they want to retain their vested interests, and no doubt increase the value of their shareholdings. However, the same individuals are also directors of the Club (which is a separate legal entity in its own right), and they must at all times act with the utmost good faith and in the best interests of the Club. The same applies also to Keith Wyness who, though not a shareholder (unless he has recently become one), is both Chief Executive Officer and a director. In his case, it may be that his pay is performance related so that if certain targets or objectives are attained, his pay increases. For instance it may be that if the Club does agree to move to Kirkby then he will be paid a bonus: of course, this is merely conjecture but is an example of how most companies reward their CEOs, but we have no idea if it applies to Keith Wyness. However, the point is that the board of directors, as currently constituted, does not include independent or non executive directors which one would expect in a company of this type. Those independent directors act as a check and balance to the executive and major shareholders so as to minimise the obvious conflict of interest. We all may draw our own conclusions as to why Everton’s board does not include such independent directors. To develop that theme, no one doubts that it is in the best interests of the major shareholders to move to Kirkby because it will inevitably increase the value of their shares without them having to spend a single penny of their own money. This is because whereas now the Club has only Goodison Park as an asset of any value, (and the amount of that value depends on whether or not planning permission for retail development can be obtained) a new stadium to be held on a 999 year lease will increase significantly the net asset value of the Club. That means the value of their shares will also significantly increase. The real issue is whether it is in the best interests of the Club to move to Kirkby. The Club of course was one of the founder members of the Football League, and has immense history, and an enviable local fan base- more reliant on local support than its neighbour. So, on the face of it, why would the Club want to risk losing its identity, and in time see a reduction in its local fan base by moving Kirkby, without at least exploring all other options? Why hand over the Liverpool brand to its neighbour without even a fight? Of course we are lead to believe that the board has considered all options and they say Kirkby is the only option, and there is no Plan B. Can we believe this? Kenwright and Co have retained majority interests now for 7 years and at no time have they raised or introduced new equity investment. Yes, they have sold off all of the Club’s assets (except for Goodison Park), but this is only to finance ever-increasing debt. It seems to me that what is in the best interests of the Club, and has been the case for years now, is for the board of directors to raise direct equity investment whether by means of a rights issue underwritten by the major shareholders or, if they cannot or will not do so, then they should sell their shares to investors who have greater financial clout and business acumen. That would undoubtedly be in the best interests of the Club. With the increase in TV money etc etc one would have thought that never was there a better opportunity than now for Kenwright and Co to sell their shares, and even make a small return notwithstanding the huge level of debt. Again we can draw our own conclusions as to why this has not happened. So what are we supposed to do based on the limited information made available to us? And why does the ballot paper expressly state that if the answer is no then no further negotiations will take place. This seems a thinly veiled threat that if the Kirkby opportunity is missed, then it is all down to those who voted no and nothing at all to do with Kenwright and Co who have controlled the Club for the last 7 years. Very clever because if the vote is ‘Yes’, they the major shareholders can avoid any issue of conflict of interest, because they will have been given a clear mandate. If the vote is ‘No’, then it’s someone else’s fault. So we’re damned if we do and damned if we don’t! For my part I’m a ‘No’ to Kirkby. My vote is based on the lack of information made available to me by the club about the Kirkby option, and my fervently held belief that Kirkby is a short-term, get quick rich solution by our board of directors. A move to Kirkby would not be in the best interests of Everton Football Club. Why move from a City in renaissance to a town?
LCC Not Very Good I have had a season ticket since 1973 and although I don't want to repeat the views already expressed on both sides of the debate I think those fans considering voting no on the basis of a alternative site being found in the City boundary should pause to consider the track record of LCC i.e. the 4th Grace debacle, Tram fiasco and the current farce of canceling the Mathew Street Festival did they forget they were digging up half the city centre and carrying out major regeneration work at the Pier head? Their ability to deliver a feasible site that stacks up for EFC (including the Scottie Road site) is questionable to say the least in fact its taken them since 1999 to sort out Stanley Park for our neighbours. I'm voting yes to Kirkby as I want to see us compete at the top level not continue to decline anyone worried about losing the kids to the Red Shite should be more concerned about our lack of success not where about on Merseyside the stadium is located. Joe (West Derby) The Prof Convinced Me I'm not a season ticket holder and probably never will be, I do not trust Kenwright or Wyness. The Professor has always given a balance view on club matters over the years and he knows what he is talking about. I'm a 50 year old Evertonian and I can quote the clubs history chapter and verse, I don't have a vote but the Professor views have convinced me that we must move, people we must think of our future our future is in Kirkby. WayneWales. (21/08/07) Vote Yes I think the board have made a mistake in having a ballot for fans to decide on the Kirkby location. I admit I am one of the converted blues and wasn't a born blues fan, but I do love the fans and the fact that Everton fans will do ANYTHING for their club. So it really disheartens me to see ppl threatening to walk away from the club. In anything in life, you have to voice your concerns, let your leader know about them, but then ultimately follow his decision. If people didn't do that, then there would be no British army. So I would like to say that the Blues army needs to buck up and think about the club. Bill Kenwright owns the club, he is the majority shareholder and has put a lot of his life savings into trying to save the club, and he has the design and marketing team that have done the months of non-stop professional work to identify the best alternative to Goodison. With that he has to make a Financial decision for the future of the club, because the only way that the financial future will be secure will be if the fans stick by the club. Now he hasn't just dreamed this overnight, he has done his research. Therefore giving the choice to fans (including myself) who don't know anything really about financial progression of this football club instead of trusting his own workforce, shows an incredible weakness in making a decision. I myself am a Investment Bank Trader in UBS in London, so judging the financial futures of a companies is something I do for a living, but I still won't know as much as Bill and his jolly workforce, about the Kirkby idea. A lot of people are saying that they need a Billionaire to come and take over the club and put loads of money in and win lots of things. Billionaires become billionaires because they don’t throw their money away. They look at the viable options and decide whether it is a worthwhile investment. They spend a bit of money the first season or two, to ensure that the fans don't leave, and then they calm down and take the profits of the company. Look at how Abramovic's spending has gone down and Milan Mandaric only spent money in 1 transfer window. That being said, with Everton being clearly second best to Liverpool in the City in recent times, why would an Investor want to come and buy a stadium and spend a lot of money on Everton when he could've had Liverpool for less. So ppl need to stop waiting for Prince charming to come and realise that the club needs a big stadium and big financial backer which Tesco have been providing and realise that nothing in life comes for free. The reason Manchester City has recently been bought out by a rich Thai is because it is nowhere near Old Trafford and most of the fans in Manchester are City fans, sound familiar? PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE help this club move forward by making the decision Bill should've made himself. Shiraz. (21/08/07) Out of consideration I usually begin my posts with an acknowledgement to the writer I'm responding to, in this case Prof. Tom Cannon, but on this occasion I'll reserve the courtesy. This is perhaps the most transparent and disgraceful piece of propaganda that Everton Football Club have used, perhaps prepared in desperation, in a bid to manipulate the spectators minds. To some, the clarity of thought from a Professor who as a "special advisor" to the board will add a certain amount of gravitas and either endorse the instinct followed by many voters or persuade those late voters that this, as an academics appraisal, is honest and candid. First of all I would hope the Prof. Cannon could put me in touch with the bank that will offer a £150,000,000 at 5.34% interest when the base rate currently stands at 5.75%. Loans involving large amounts such as this are currently obtained between one to two points over base so, specifically, a loan of the size indicated would cost, at 7.25%, £13,162,785. Yes more than is indicated, but all those dazzled by academia just wait for the rest, and before accountants start to argue about tax effectiveness just remember that Everton's current long term debt liability, a £30,000,000 securitization loan, is at 7.79% (£2,767,000 p.a.). Second, loans of this magnitude are not subject to fluctuations in the interest rate, the risk is spread to both parties, look at Arsenal, Newcastle in deed look at Everton's loan, it's not like nipping into the Nat West and getting a house mortgage, the insinuation that it is frankly beggars belief. All the aforementioned have fixed rate loans over a 25-year period, why introduce a topic that has no relevance whatsoever? If, Prof. Cannon, you intend to take matters at face value then the figure you use for potential debt for Kirkby, provided by Mr. Leahy, must be taken with the proverbial pinch of salt. Notwithstanding the indisputable fact that the £35,000,000 is a 133% increase on the £15,000,000 figure, as the likely amount of debt supplied only two weeks earlier by the Everton CEO Mr. Keith Wyness, I find it incomprehensible that you have not questioned the possibility that this potential debt will actually range between £75,000,000 and £100,000,000 unless of course we are having built the cheapest stadium in the history of premiership football. A loan of this magnitude, £75,000,000 at 7.75%, would cost £6,876,482 or £8,775,190 for the top figure. As for your chart, applying some realistic data and not relying on frankly naive assumptions that a city centre site would not offer substantially increased benefits when attempting to develop the commercial revenue streams that are available outside of the normal match day experience, according to experts such as Simon Inglis, is, in addition to the inescapable fact that if Kirkby were to be developed the contribution from the retail only site to Everton Football Club would be, and this isn't an estimate, zero, no hotels or leisure facilities are to be built, according to Mr. Wyness, it doesn't take a genius to work out why, yet another attempt to distract . Debt
is a fact of modern premiership clubs, look here at Liverpool, http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=200702061223557923Q
Top
You Prof. Cannon are either incredibly ignorant of your subject matter
or you believe that the supporters of Everton Football Club are incredibly I have found the actions of the club in the past week to be disgraceful, I'm at a loss to explain why the club should adopt these tactics as my gut feeling tells me that whilst far from being a massive vote of confidence the Yes vote will prevail as most voters have only heard a monologue from the club and the local press. I'll be glad when the vote is over; I'm frankly sick and tired of it now. A very disappointed Evertonian. Colin.Fitz. (21/08/07) Stadium Debate: Professor Tom Cannon I
hope you publish this article or at least read the article I recommend.
I for one cannot say that I have enough information to debate fully for
and against in any way. One point Id like to make is that financially
we are to receive no actual finance from Tesco, instead we receive the
land, which value would rise to around 50million when the whole complex
is built. I wont use figures as the club and businesses have been far
to vague on what we will make/costs will be incurred (making calculations
near impossible). On the subject of Mr. Cannons analysis, well here's
an article from a while back and involves his analysis of newcastle. The
reply worryingly shows he never considered some very basic facts. www.newcastle-online.com/nufcviews/idiot.shtml
(the article claims he is also a kopite but this may just be speculation
and so wouldn't read into this too much) I'd recommend to anyone the following
article: Fortune Favours the
Brave What Do You Think? Have your say! e-mail info@bluekipper.com e-mails index New Stadium - The Fans Views |