His subject was the role of LV in regeneration of our city. Naturally he spoke about the Kings Dock project and the role of Everton Football Club as "preferred bidder" for the site under the name of Houston Securities. He spoke about other things but of course all Evertonians will be primarily interested in his observations on our proposed future stadium.

The bottom line(s) boil down to this:

1. The naming rights of the stadium WILL be commercialised…though Everton will have an input.

2. The current "due diligence" process is expected to conclude in Spring, 2002.

3. There will be a management company for the Kings Dock of which he will be chairman. 51% of the company will be owned by parties (local/national government) other than Everton. The company has yet to be named.

4. Houston Securities will hold 49% of the ownership of the entire site and this will be reflected in their voting rights on all issues (including naming rights) which affect the project. In other words, Everton will NOT have the final say.

5. Dwyer further said his greatest financial concern for funding of the project was with the other 51% ownership, NOT EVERTON FOOTBALL CLUB.

Now, you can whimper and whine away about this till the cows come home. But the fact is, all commercial life is about POWER, who has it, who uses it. In this case, it is obviously with the 51%, all of it chaired by one Joe Dwyer esq. And Mr. Dwyer is a self-confessed pinky. That's right, he supports the 'shite. Shades of Hamperfuckwit.

So anybody who feels inclined to address any of the issues relating to the project better get used to the fact that Our Joe is in pole position. This will apply whatever the composition/constitution of the board of the management company. For all practical purposes, Joe Dwyer IS Liverpool Vision. Anybody who wants to achieve anything will have to go through him. Make no mistake, Our Joe is an owl arse from the private construction industry called out of retirement to run Britain's first urban regeneration company formed by the government. Therefore, he has their ear.

In the circumstances, whining away about Paul Gregg, who owns the club, Bill Kenwright and co., is a complete waste of time. Its only function will be to provide Our Joe with some mild amusement, even though he is an undoubted scouser who wants to see our city regenerate. Like all of us, he wants the project to go ahead and be successful. It is in everyone's interests including his.

But what it means is that all correspondence should at least be copied to Our Joe so he knows precisely how Evertonians feel. No use depending on our club to forward your views to him. Get them there yourself. And if you've got any common sense at all you will realise the only thing which matters is what is lost and what is gained. A whining shout of "I don't believe it!" at besieged Bill Kenwright is a waste of useful energy.

You will also note the decision date has been put back yet again. We have previously been told it would be December/January. Now it is "Spring," which means either April or May. We have been here before.

Our Joe was asked if he had a fallback position in the event the Houston Securities bid didn't make it. He said "No," though I think he was being disingenuous. In my view he would be derelict in his duty if he didn't have a contingency plan. But if true it means the Everton proposals are shit or bust for LV. The whole process would have to start all over again. And that would completely screw up LV's entire fifteen-year regeneration programme and leave Our Joe with egg all over his reputation.

He was also asked if he had stipulated milestones for our club during the "due diligence" process. He waffled, squirmed visibly and muttered that such queries should be directed to the club.

So now you know. Get off your arse and DO something.

Call y'self an Evertonian? Our Joe sure ain't.

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What do you think? email BlueKipper kingsdock@bluekipper.com