Everton
may be moving from Goodison Park to a new stadium. It could be in Kirkby
outside the city boundaries. It could be in a new site inside the city
boundaries. Everton may develop Goodison Park. Whatever your views,
we will put them on this site. As an Everton fan you deserve to be heard.
Clearly
KEIOC are disappointed in the outcome of the Kirkby ballot. However,
we are proud that we were able to mount such a well supported
campaign despite the obvious bias of the local media.
Our
concerns about the ballot are well documented – regular match
goers did not receive a vote, people not entitled to vote received
a ballot form whilst people who were entitled to a vote did not.
We do not blame the Electoral Reform Society for these discrepancies.
Whilst KEIOC respects the fact that the club were open enough
to take this issue to a ballot, it is clear that the database
that they presented to ERS was fundamentally flawed. Supporters’
concerns about the ballot process remain unanswered.
We
would ask the Club to release a full breakdown of the number of
ballot papers that were sent out to each category of voter, the
number of ballot papers returned and the number of duplicates
that were discounted from the final count.
It
is deeply disappointing to note that whilst the Club would not
allow KEIOC representatives to observe the final count, the result
of the vote was leaked to Sky Sports news on Thursday afternoon.
The
closeness of the ballot result clearly highlights a bitterly divided
fan base. KEIOC urge the Club to think long and hard before rushing
headlong into any long term deal which would result in the club
being trapped in a legal quagmire for years to come. We find it
rather ironic that on the very day the ballot closed, the pro
–Kirkby local press announced that Kirkby residents had major
concerns about EFC moving to Kirkby, and that Knowsley Council
had confirmed that Tesco’s proposed retail park could not go ahead
unless it included a new stadium for EFC.
KEIOC
are still of the opinion that the Kirkby project is not in the
best interests of Everton Football Club as it is a short term
fix to a long term problem. We urge the club to immediately carry
out a meaningful inquiry as to the long term effects of moving
such an historic club from a City in renaissance, to a town centre,
and most importantly to make the results available to the fans.
We hope that the result of the ballot does not preclude the club
from considering other sites which lie much closer to our spiritual
home.
We
urge the custodians of the ‘Peoples Club’ to give serious consideration
to the sites being put forward by Liverpool City Council, listen
to the concerns of its loyal fan base and act in accordance with
our motto :Nil
Satis Nisi Optimum.
KEIOC
(30/08/07)
The
Fans Vote Yes To Kirkby
Everton
Football Club acknowledges that a majority of those Evertonians
who were eligible to vote in the ballot do support the Club in
its desire to relocate to a new home in Kirkby.
We are the
only major club in Europe to have handed over a decision of such
importance and magnitude to its fan-base – something which simply
serves to underscore the enormously high regard in which we hold
our supporters.
We now have
a mandate to carry on negotiations with our two project partners
– Knowsley Borough Council and Tesco.
The Club’s
Board of Directors, the management staff and the players would
like to thank all those who participated in the ballot.
We would also
like to thank the Electoral Reform Services who ran the ballot
on our behalf in a diligent and wholly professional manner.
Whilst we
concede that the proposed move has undoubtedly provoked a heated
and sustained debate, it is reassuring to know that the majority
of Evertonians do support the Club as it pursues its long-held
desire to provide a world-class stadium for its world-class support.
The result
comes at the end of a transparent, democratic process and we believe
that now is the time for all supporters of Everton Football Club
to set aside any differences of opinion and unite for the common
good.
The simple
truth is, we all want the same thing – a thriving, ambitious and
prosperous club away from the field of play and an attractive,
competitive team on it.
Number
of voting packs dispatched: 36,662
Number of votes received: 25,761
Number of votes found to be invalid: 63
Total number of valid votes: 25,698
Turnout: 70.27%
Question
Based
on the foregoing information, the Board is inclined to pursue
the building of a new stadium in Kirkby. The Board promised to
ballot Evertonians to ascertain their views on this move. The
question is: Are you in favour of relocating Everton Football
Club to Kirkby?
The
Result
Yes:
15,230 - 59.27%
NO: 10,468 - 40.73%
D
Day
Everton's
future home will be decided at 10:30am on Friday morning, when
the results of the ballot for or against Kirkby will be revealed.
For the past few weeks ballot papers have been dropping on Evertonians
doormats the length and breadth of the country to give the fans
a voice in this very emotive debate, by simply putting a simple
cross in the yes or no box.
The
Electoral Reform Services who have been conducting the ballot
will reveal the results in the morning, so August 24th 2007
will go down as a pivotal day in the Blues near 130 year history.
(23/08/07)
An
Open Letter to: Mr.
Bill Kenwright CBE
Chairman
Everton FC
Goodison Park
Liverpool
Professor
Tom Cannon
Ideopolis International Ltd.,
Rodney Street
Liverpool
Dear
Chairman.
You’ll recall that two years ago I was elected as a “special advisor”
to the Board at the club’s Annual General Meeting, so it is only
right that I give you my advice on the proposed Ground move.
I am, also, writing to you because so many of my fellow Evertonians
have asked my views on this crucial issue. I guess this reflects
not only my role of a Business School Dean, but my long term –
and very public – interest in sports finance.
Like every Blue, I feel many emotions. Some of the best nights
and days of my life were at Goodison; against Fulham, when we
won our first post-war title, against Bayern and the 4-4 against
Liverpool. Goodison was great – but even greater were the players
and the fans. I want my children and grandchildren to look forward
to the same kind of success so I’ve looked closely at the case
for the move to Kirkby and the alternatives.
Sir Terry Leahy has already completed some of the analysis I would
normally make. He flags the scale of the Kirkby development –
80 acres against our current 7 acres and the slightly larger (than
Goodison) Scotland Road Site – with all that means for development
and new finance. He highlights the £150 million cost of
the same stadium as a stand-alone project against £35M the
Kirkby development is likely to cost Everton.
Looking at the alternative sites to Kirkby, it is hard to see
how the costs to the club could be kept below £150 Million.
The contribution of local and corporate partners is crucial to
keeping the costs to the club down. I admire Sir Mohammed Anwar
Pervez and his achievements at Bestway, but there is a world of
difference between its financial capacity and that of Tesco. According
to the latest figures Tesco’s profits are twice Bestway’s total
turnover! At £4 billion, its profits are fifty times greater
than Bestway’s £73 million profits.
It is hard to see how Bestway could provide significant financial
support, when a £150 million stadium development would pretty
well wipe out their entire profits for the last three years! Similar
comments can be made about the local authorities. Here, I confess
to some personal interests. Although I was born and lived off
Stanley Road, my family – like so many Liverpudlians – was moved
to Kirkby by the Council when I was eleven. Even now, although
my company is based on Rodney Street, I have worked with Knowsley
Council and found it an outstanding partner, as have Ford, Vertex,
QVC and a host of others.
I don’t doubt Warren Bradley’s sincerity, but I question his ability
to deliver his promises about funding, planning permissions, access
roads etc. I remember the Kings’ Dock and the apparent promises
about planning permission around Goodison and developments around
the planned arena. Working on Rodney Street, I am acutely aware
of the problems faced by the Mathew Street Festival, The Fourth
Grace, The Tram etc. I am, also, aware that Warren’s already going
cap in hand to Gordon Brown to cover a £20 million deficit
on the Capital of Culture.
I am less than encouraged that a key role in Everton’s future
will be played by Jason Harborrow, the Council’s newly appointed
Executive Director for Culture, Media and Sport. We know him best,
of course, as the Chief Executive of the Culture Company.
This means that I must conclude that the sites in Liverpool require
that the club must fund any new ground development here out of
its own resources. That means finding at least £150 million,
plus any lost income while the parts of Goodison are redeveloped
if the “redevelop at Goodison” option is pursued.
This raises some of the greatest concerns that I have about the
future not just about Everton, but about many other top flight
clubs in England. Despite the new money coming into the game through
television, increased ticket prices, merchandising, Premier League
clubs (if we include the risk investments of new owners) are massively
in debt with total indebtedness now over £3 Billion or roughly
the total Premier League TV income for the next 3 years.
I want Everton to be relatively debt free, if the feared financial
crunch happens and Hedge Funds (already under pressure from crashing
stock markets) and others start demanding their “pound of flesh”
from new investors in the Premier League.
Every ½% increase in interest charges costs a club borrowing
£150 Million an extra £1 Million a year– we’ve had
four of these increases over the last year –on top of the £10
million required to service the basic debt for a stadium costing
£150 million, plus any other of the club’s debts.
The Kirkby alternative will involve debt, but using Sir Terry’s
figure of £35 Million, an annual outlay of around £2.5
Million to service the basic debt for the stadium against at least
£11 Million for the Scotland Road site. Even staying at
Goodison with no redevelopment costs but lost revenues from obstructed
views, limited executive facilities, weak local amenities etc.
is expensive. The table below answers many questions for me.
Comparing the three most widely touted alternatives and using
conservative estimates of income and expenditure, the move can
give us a minimum of £6.5 Million a year more than we have
now to spend on players and other developments. The Scotland Road
loop would actually mean £4.5M less than we have now or
£11M annually less than Kirkby, even if we assume, as I
do here, bigger average gates at that site.
Besides this, the likely two year delay could cost the club around
£15 Million in lost income and added costs. Similar analysis
for a redeveloped Goodison indicates that this is the most expensive
option with the lowest returns. Over the next 5-6 years, the Scotland
Road site would reduce Everton’s spending power by £50 million
compared to Kirkby.
Kirkby
Scotland
Road
Undeveloped
Goodison
Costs
Annual
£M
£M
£M
Debt Servicing
2.5
11
0
Obstructed
Views
-
-
1
Operating
costs
-1
0
0.5
Total
1.5
11
1.5
Net
Additional Annual
Gate
4
4.5
0
Executive
2
2
0
Amenity
Development car parks etc
2
0
0
Total
8
6.5
0
Balance
+6.5
-4.5
-1.5
I’ll
always remember the glory days and nights, but if I want my grandchildren
to have more glory days and nights from the great players we can
sign – rather than the bank charges we can pay – for me Tesco
and Knowsley is undoubtedly the best choice.
I confirm, however, that whatever the outcome of the vote, wherever
we play – I’ll support Everton.
Yours truly, Professor Tom Cannon.
(20/08/07)
Prof
Tom Cannon
Loop
Plans Revealed
Bestway
have launched images today of how the proposed new stadium at
their Scotland Road site would look. It is to include a tower
structure, which would incorporate hotel and leisure facilities,
and Bestway are claiming that 50,000 Evertonians could watch
our heroes in comfort whilst importantly not leaving the City.
For more information on the Bestway proposal, click
this link.
Bestway's
Head Honcho of Property Malcolm Carter says: "We
hope that fans can see that there is a reason for voting to
keep Everton in Everton. The size and stature of these two companies
shows how serious we are about the project and I know that the
City Council shares our determination.
We
also remain committed to our existing business, and are continuing
to make progress in securing a suitable location for this as
part of any deal. When the ballot’s over we want to be in a
position to sit down with the club and demonstrate that our
site is a viable option.
Cllr
Bradley says: "The Loop site is a real possibility
– companies with this background would not be involved with
it otherwise - and I would hope that Everton would give it serious
consideration. They owe it to their fans to consider this option."
Alan
Stubbs Statement
Stubbsy
says: "I
know it is a bit of a sore point with the fans but I think you
have really got to look what is best for the Club at this moment
in time. And if that is a move to Kirkby then we have all got
to get behind it one way or another. Myself and the players
just want what is best for the Club and if that means moving
to a new stadium somewhere else in the city then that is fine.
I know we have looked at various sites but they have not been
the right sites. The plans for Kirkby look fantastic and this
is at the forefront of everything that is at the table at the
moment. The designs for the stadium look fantastic. It would
give us a first class stadium with first class facilities which
will bring in revenue for players. It would be a wrench for
everybody to leave Goodison. I don't want to leave Goodison
but if I was given a ballot paper then reluctantly I would go
for the new stadium. Whatever decision is made we have all got
to support it but it will be in the best interests of Everton
Football Club." (14/08/07)
Duncan
Ferguson Statement
Dunc
says:
"If you were to take Everton out of the City, Everton FC
could no longer call itself the ‘People’s Club’. The best memory
I have of my time at the club was when I scored my first goal
in the derby game on 21 November 1994. It was then that I realised
what fanatical support the club has. After the game I headed into
the City centre and my journey took me along County Road, Walton
Road and then Scotland Road. The sight was simply awesome – a
sea of blue and white. I had no idea that so many people in the
City supported the blues. I had come down from Glasgow, another
city renowned for its football fanaticism, but I truly had never
before witnessed what I witnessed in the City on that night.”
(14/08/07)
Sir
Terry Leahy's letter to Evertonians:
I have been
an Everton fan all my life. The first game I saw was against Leyton
Orient in December 1962 – I think we won 3–0. As a businessman
my head rules, as a football fan it’s more complex – it’s about
heart as well as head. Every Everton fan can make a rational assessment
of where the club will end up at the start of every campaign,
but in your heart you hope for a bit more. It’s what generates
the excitement, the anticipation. Twenty teams enter a competition
that only one can win, being a football fan essentially is not
about being rational, more often than not the heart rules the
head.
I want to
argue in this article that when it comes to the vote on Kirkby,
it must be the other way round and in the best interests of the
club we love, our heads must guide our hearts in making this decision.
Now let me
declare an interest right up front. Tesco will benefit if the
£400 million redevelopment of Kirkby takes place. But that
does not mean Everton will lose out. Everton will win too. The
success of Tesco has been based on creating maximum benefit, and
then sharing it between communities, customers, staff, shareholders
and other stakeholders. It’s win win, not win lose. And at Kirkby
the town wins, Tesco wins and Everton wins. How does it work?
Well it’s an 80 acre site (Goodison is 7 acres) next to Kirkby
town centre which Knowsley Council want to transform in a bold
and ambitious way. That transformation brought about by the combination
of Knowsley Council, Tesco and Everton will generate thousands
of jobs and hundreds of thousands of leisure and shopping visits
which will raise property values. It’s that increase in property
values which allows all three partners to benefit from the scheme.
If Everton built a new stadium alone, rather than as part of an
overall development, the cost would be huge. In the case of the
Kirkby proposal, if you allocated a share of the traffic, infrastructure
and land costs to the stadium, a very conservative figure would
be £25 million. The construction of the stadium itself would
cost around £110 million. Barr Construction have an integrated
design, steel manufacture and construction operation which makes
huge savings on that figure. Tesco as the developer is forgoing
the normal development profit on the construction of around £15
million, in addition to the contribution it is making directly.
So if you went out to buy this stadium it would cost you £150
million. It has been designed to be extendable to 60,000 seats
which, when it happens, will cost another £25 million and
there is ample space in the stadium to add further lounges, facilities
and finishes to the highest standards in the Premier League when
the club completes its investment. This would be in addition to
the very good provision from day one, but could be anything from
£15 – £25 million dependent on what you ultimately
want. So you are looking at a stadium which when finally developed
is around £200 million, and £150 million from day
one.
It is therefore,
most definitely, not a stadium on the cheap. It will be a fitting
home for a club of Everton’s tradition and standing. It won’t
have the memories of Goodison, but it will be a massive improvement
in every other respect. It will be owned by Everton, and because
of the contribution of Knowsley, Barr and Tesco, at a fraction
of the cost of a stand alone scheme. The club could not presently
raise the money to go it alone or redevelop Goodison to a similar
standard. Even if they could, the difference of over £100
million would be used up in construction. Now, if any of that
money can be raised, it can be used instead to develop the playing
squad.
I know there
has been talk of other sites. Tesco has looked at over 30 possible
locations. The problem within the ‘loop’ site (10 acres) and Goodison
(7 acres) is that they could (just) accommodate a new ground,
but there would be no adjoining land for commercial development
to pay for it. So the entire cost of the development would fall
on the club, a burden they could not bear. The loop site has an
occupier which would have to be bought out. By way of interest,
Tesco owns a neighbouring site and we had hoped this would be
the location for the club, but it simply could not be made to
work. The Long Lane site is larger, but has 60 occupiers and serious
traffic difficulties.
Clearly it’s possible to lift the stadium design for Kirkby (or
one like it) and drop it onto Goodison or the loop site – and
in my heart as a fan, it looks nice. But unless the club is offered
a concrete proposal to own a £150 million stadium for around
£35 million investment by Everton, and delivered by 2010
/ 11 then I’m afraid it is not a realistic option.
The Kirkby
stadium is based loosely on the Cologne stadium. It will be a
traditional four sided England Premier League ground, with 21st
century facilities. Kirkby has the best access within 45 mins
of any Premier League ground.
Some people
are worried Kirkby is not in the City boundary. (We all know that
Manchester City is in the City of Manchester and Manchester United
is not!) But it is closer to Goodison than many of the locations
suggested within the City boundaries. The City of Liverpool is
around 450,000 people. But the City region, including of course
Kirkby, is around 1.4 million. I believe it is right to think
in terms of the City region. I have been involved in the regeneration
of Liverpool since 1999 through my membership of Liverpool Vision.
The £3 billion of investment going into the Kings Dock,
the Grosvenor scheme and the office district would simply not
have happened if Liverpool was only 450,000 people. It is an investment
for the whole region, supported by all the Councils of Merseyside
and benefiting the wider region, and the £400 million investment
in the regeneration of Kirkby should be seen in the same light.
I have heard
it suggested that a ‘no’ vote for Kirkby would precipitate a change
at the club, and thereby increase the likelihood of new investment.
I have two reactions; first Bill Kenwright, Keith Wyness and David
Moyes have turned a relegation side into a European side, something
that a number of better invested clubs have failed to do. Second,
the prospect of outside investment in the club is massively increased
by the Kirkby proposal. Without it, any prospective investor knows
that the first £150 million of investment would have to
go into a stadium, with nothing to show on the pitch. With Kirkby,
new investment could go straight into the team, with the prospect
of a return by way of better results.
One final
point, in my business life I have learned the most valuable commodity
is trust. Without it you don’t have much to build on. I may not
always like it, but I’ve learned to trust the people closest to
issues to make the best judgement. When the Board, the manager
and the leading players of Everton are unanimous that a move to
Kirkby is right, I know they have the best interest of the club
at heart and I trust their judgement. Whichever way I look at
it, the heart says Goodison but the head says Kirkby.
Terry Leahy. (11/08/07)
Open
Letter From Keith Wyness
A
Bit Of Bully Wyness has issued on open letter in response to
the Loop stuff:
In
the light of the joint statement issued on Monday, August 6
by Liverpool City Council and Bestway, the owners of the "trumpet"
loop site located just off Scotland Road, I feel it is imperative
that we pass comment both by asking those who regard this site
as a possible location for a new home for Everton Football Club
a series of highly-pertinent questions and by making some general
observations.
Why,
if the site is, indeed, both deliverable and suitable, is it
only now being touted as a viable possibility? We, as a Club,
have been engaged in talks with Knowsley Borough Council and
Tesco about the possibility of relocating to Kirkby for the
best part of 18 months and yet only now has this site been put
forward as a possible alternative.
During
what was an exhaustive and lengthy search for a suitable and
deliverable site within the Liverpool city boundaries not once
was the Scotland Road "option" even mentioned. Up
until two weeks ago, the City Council was enthusiastically claiming
that it had sites in both Speke and Aintree which they believed
to be deliverable and which they wished us to seriously consider.
Since the announcement of the Scotland Road site there has been
no mention of either – why is this?
With
regard to the actual availability of the site, we understand
that it is has, for some considerable time, been under consideration
for the relocation of businesses to accommodate Project Jennifer
for St Modwen. Is this the case?
In order to provide the retail element which is essential to
make any new stadium project deliverable, further land adjoining
the current site would be required. Is this land available,
who currently owns it and what would the purchase cost be?
Would
any compulsory purchase orders be required in order that we
could attain the size of site we require? If CPOs are required,
is it not the case that they could take up to 12 months to attain?
Liverpool
City Council would be required to demonstrate what is know as
"best consideration" in any land transactions – they
would have to show that any deal was in the best interests of
the people of the city. This, we are told, can prove to be a
very lengthy process. Is that correct and is there cross-party
support for the Scotland Road site within Liverpool City Council?
Is
the site actually suitable? Would a 50,000-seater stadium fit
on the available land whilst guaranteeing the required circulation
space for supporters and vehicles?
We
do not believe that the existing transport infrastructure in
the Scotland Road area would be able to cope with the volume
of traffic generated on matchdays. It does seem inevitable that
several bridges would have to be constructed. What would be
the cost of upgrading the infrastructure and who will foot the
bill?
Would
the construction of a development which would also include a
large retail element not dramatically undermine – and anger
– those behind the Grosvenor and Project Jennifer schemes? Is
there not a very real possibility of a legal challenge from
these other developers?
What
is the proposed timeline for any development on this site? We
believe it would take between six and nine months to complete
a comprehensive feasibility study, a further six to nine months
to prepare a planning application and then an additional four
to six months to receive a formal planning decision. In addition,
if the scheme was to be "called in" by central government,
the entire project could be subjected to a delay of anything
up to a year.
Without
wishing, in any way, to call into question the integrity and
professionalism of those who have pulled the Scotland Road "rabbit"
out of a hitherto cunningly-concealed hat, we do find it curious
that it is being portrayed as a genuine, realistic and deliverable
scheme at the precise moment our supporters are being invited
to participate in a ballot about our proposed relocation to
Kirkby. (09/08/07)
The
Loop / Trumpet
Further
comments have been made regarding the Loop or the Trumpet site
on Scotty Road. Bestway and Liverpool City Council are all for
the idea, the Chamber of Commerce are saying it hasn’t got much
going for, while Everton are not saying anything public about
it. And probably will not do so until the Kirkby yes or no vote
thingy comes to an end.
Bestway’s
Malcolm Carter says: “We have been encouraged by our
meetings with the city council’s team of senior executives and
their determination to put all their energies and efforts behind
the project. We are equally committed to supporting this exciting
opportunity for Everton Football Club and the communities of
North Liverpool.
“Our initial studies have established that a first-class stadium
will fit on our site and we are confident that the wider area
could accommodate a level of supporting commercial development.”
“Liverpool City Council and Bestway fully acknowledge and respect
Everton’s need to resolve their future and deliver a new stadium
worthy of a leading European club. Both parties are committed
to working constructively with the club to progress the Loop
Site option in the coming weeks.”
Cllr Warren Bradley says “Clearly we will need
to work closely with Everton Football Club to convince the club
that a genuine alternative to the Knowsley move can be delivered
within the city of Liverpool and in the heart of Everton itself.
Bill Kenwright, fans like myself and everyone associated with
Everton all want the best for this great club, and I believe
this is potentially the best site available.”
Ed Oliver, deputy chairman of Liverpool Chamber of Commerce
says “A large commercial scheme so close to the retail
and business heart of the city would almost certainly face opposition.
I personally do not think it will come to that because I am
sure there will be little demand for retail space on the fringe
of the city when there is so much commercial activity in the
city centre.
“Whilst I agree with the general opinion that Everton should
try to stay within Liverpool I do not see the trumpet site as
a viable option, because it will probably not work economically
and even if it was progressed forward there would be concerns
and opposition raised from existing city centre businesses.”
(07/08/06)
The
Ballot Papers Are To Be Sent Out This Week
The
Ballot papers for the vote on a possible relocation to Kirkby
are being distributed by the Electoral Reform Services (ERS) from
today. Supporters should note that there is an ongoing Royal Mail
Postal strike which will effect the delivery of all post. If you
don't get your voting form by Friday 10th August, then please
contact the Electoral Reform Services on 0208 889 9203. As appropriate,
duplicate packs will then be despatched.
The
ERS is an independent elections consultancy and balloting organisation
called in by Everton to carry out the voting process.
Over
36,000 papers are being sent to eligible supporters made up of
season ticket holders from the last three years, shareholders
and Evertonia members from the 2006/07 season. (07/08/07)
To
See New Images of the proposed stadium in Kirkby plus more information
click
here
KEIOC
Statement
During
our public consultation exercise on Friday 3rd August 2007 at
ST Georges hall, we used 1,300 ballot papers. Surely 90% OF Evertonians
Cant be wrong in their heart felt desire to stay within the boundaries
of our great City.
We as the only campaign group in the great stadium debate, We
would urge Everton football club to suspend the impending ballot
and to consider the options within the city boundaries as presented
by KEIOC at our consultation. If Everton believe that the proposed
relocation to Kirkby is the "Deal of the Century" we
challenge the peoples club to jointly with KEIOC, to take part
in a duel public consultation exercise and allow the fans the
opportunity consider all the facts ,all the possibilities and
all the sites. Then the most passionate and loyal supporters in
the country would be able to make a considered judgement.
Alfie Hincks, Secretary, Keep Everton in our City. (06/08/07)
Success
Organisers
of the Public Consultation at St. Georges Hall yesterday are
hailing the day a success as up to five thousands Evertonians
made the trip into the City Centre to see KEIOC 's proposals
to keep the Blues in Liverpool. Representatives from Bestway's
Loop Scheme were present to sell their plans, as was Tom Hughes
who believes Goodison itself can be redeveloped, and his images
were there for all to see how it could be done.
The
talking and the PR drives on KEIOC and Everton's behalf's are
now both in the public domain, and now the responsibility of
Everton's future lies with us the fans, in a vote on Kirkby
or Liverpool. Whatever your vote, whatever your view, please
do not let the ballot paper sit on the mantlepiece, put your
tick wherever you believe it should go, but please vote.
(04/08/07)
KEIOC
has released a few snaps of a proposed new stadium that they
claim can be built on the existing Goodison site, and house
57,000 fans, hotels and apartments. Interestingly they also
claim that the capacity during construction would not drop below
40,000, which if true could be a huge vote winner to keep Everton
at Goodison Park. One point worth looking at though if it did
get the go ahead, can we paint the corners Blue instead of a
shitty red !!
Not
much financial detail is forthcoming, but if you pop down to
St. Georges Hall on Friday 3rd August, all will be revealed
with the opening of a Public Consultation for the day. For details
click here
KEIOC
Spokesman Dave Kelly says: “We have spent a lot of
time and effort producing these images.
We believe there are alternatives to Kirkby out there, whether
it is redeveloping Goodison or relocating to another site within
the city, and we want Evertonians to see them before casting
a vote. This
campaign is not ruled by our hearts, it is ruled by our heads.
We firmly believe we should not betray 115 years of heritage
by going to Kirkby." (02/08/07)
Is
This Plan B?
Everton
Bring In The Players
As
the emotive battle carries on whether to leave Goodison for Kirkby,
Blue Bill and Moyesy have both issued statements urging the fans
to look on the proposed new venue for Everton as a new beginning.
The club has produced a brochure with the players giving their
views.
KEIOC also
issued a statement today in that they are to hold a public consultation
this Friday. Representatives of the Blues Board have been invited
to the consultation, but as of yet no answer is forthcoming, as
it is said that Blue Bill and Bully Beef are looking for protective
headgear in Royal Blue. October Communications who are pushing
for the Bestway site by the Mersey Tunnel however will be present.
Seconds Out !!
Blue
Bill says: "No-one loves Goodison Park more than
I do but we have reached a critical moment in our history. Remaining
at our current home is my preferred option, but that has simply
not proved possible. So we must look to a future in a new home,
one that will provide both the benefits of modern design and the
heart of Goodison."
Moyesy
says: "In the past few years it has become patently
clear that only those clubs which can boost an impressive financial
clout can truly compete for the major prizes. What we don't want
is to be left behind. I want the best for Everton in both the
short and long terms. The stadium in Kirkby will provide us with
the facilities we need to keep moving forward."
Andy
Johnson says:
“The plans for the new ground are very exciting and I am sure
it will mean a bright future for this club.” (31/07/07)
Kirkby
Residents Want Everton - According To Poll
More
than half (51%) of Kirkby residents want Everton to move to their
town, according to major poll commissioned by Knowsley North MP
George Howarth. The new independent survey of more than 500 people
shows a shift in support for the plans.
53%
of Kirkby residents believe the plan will improve their quality
of life and 81% believe it will deliver economic benefits. 51%
believe the new stadium is the right step forward, 39% “strongly”
support the project and 33% remain against.
Mr
Howarth says: “From the time these proposals first emerged,
my main concern has been to ensure that the people of Kirkby are
heard and that their concerns are seriously addressed by the developers
and their associates. Because the view of the community was not
entirely clear, I commissioned a reputable, independent polling
organisation. It was a fair, honest and statistically robust reflection
of local opinion.”
500
Kirkby people attended a public meeting at St Chad’s church held
by the anti-stadium Kirkby Residents Action.
Rev
Tim Stratford says: “We conducted our own poll of people
leaving the council’s consultations and they were 75% against
the ground." (27/07/07)
Kirkby
Leaders Not Happy With Bradley's Cow Shed Remarks
Liverpool
CC leader, Warren Bradley was accused of insulting the people
of Kirkby, as well as the fans of Everton FC by the leader of
Knowsley council, following his claim that the club’s proposed
new home would be “a cow shed in a small
town”.
Cllr
Round says: “In Knowsley, we have always tried to encourage
investment and regeneration across the whole of Merseyside. We
realise that projects which have a positive impact in the region
can also have a positive impact in our borough. I think that Merseyside
has been working together better than ever in recent times, which
is why I was disappointed that Warren Bradley has chosen to work
against a proposal which could create more than 2,000 new jobs
and transform Kirkby into a premier leisure and retail destination.
Warren Bradley’s remark is nothing more than an insult to local
people and the football club he maintains that he passionately
supports. I would point out that Knowsley Council has been regenerating
the Kirkby area for the past fifteen years into a successful location
for major business investment including Liverpool Football Club,
QVC and News International. Our talks with Tesco and Everton have
been progressing well and could provide a scheme that will deliver
immense benefits for the whole of Merseyside, and not just Kirkby
or Knowsley. This could generate an extra income for the region
of up to £21.5m per year. Knowsley values meeting the needs
of our community and the wider Merseyside community and is taking
into consideration the views of people who live and work in Kirkby
to make sure we make the right decision to secure a prosperous
future for the town centre.”
Knowsley North MP George Howarth says: “Warren’s comments
were offensive to the people of Kirkby and ill judged. I hope
on reflection he will agree that what he said was not a useful
contribution to the debate among both the people of Knowsley and
Everton fans.” (26/07/07)
