SEPTEMBER 23
£30m of grants hang on Liverpool's decision

By Bill Gleeson - Daily Post

Liverpool Football Club has been told it must share with rivals Everton if it wants to secure public sector grants to part finance its proposed new stadium at Stanley Park.

News of the ultimatum emerged as Everton and Liverpool's chief executives met the leaders of two major public agencies yesterday to explore the ground share proposals.

While that meeting ended with a bland formal statement being issued to the press, the Daily Post has learned from a senior public sector source that the North West Development Agency and Liverpool City Council have warned they may withhold funding if a ground share is not agreed.

Two weeks ago the Daily Post revealed the regional development agency was calling on the two clubs to share one stadium. Since then the local authority has given its support to the idea.

Liverpool FC plans to build its own stadium and the ground share proposal has split opinion between both sets of fans.

At stake is up to £30m of grants to help meet the £100m cost of the Stanley Park stadium.

The source said: "The public sector agencies are putting pressure on the clubs. They are using their leverage to ensure the issue of a ground share is properly addressed."

Liverpool has always wanted some public funding for auxiliary developments alongside its new stadium, such as a conference and visitor centre. Now it appears the club also wants grant support for the ground itself.

The public sector source said: "If they want public money for the ground, it gives the public sector some say in how it's used."

Liverpool FC has spent the last three months trying to raise money from investment banks in the City. Potential investors include Bear Stearns, which raised £30m for Everton through a season ticket securitisation two years ago. The majority of that money was used to repay the club's £20m overdraft.

Liverpool FC wants the City to lend it £75m to pay for the costs of the new stadium and the club is seeking further sums to help buy new players.

A £75m loan secured against season ticket sales could cost the club around £5m a year in interest payments over 25 years.

The proposed Stanley Park stadium would be able to seat 60,000 fans, 14,000 more than the club's current Anfield home. Liverpool hopes to persuade potential investors that the resulting extra gate revenues, worth up to £14m a year, would allow it to comfortably meet repayments.

However, one football finance expert suggested last night the Reds might be finding it difficult to raise the money it needs at an acceptable price.

James Dow, a director of Cheshire-based corporate finance firm Dow Schofield Watts, said: "It might be problematic in the current environment. There is speculation about the servicing of Leeds United's debt, particularly if things don't pick up on the pitch."

Mr Dow, a former partner in KPMG, has advised Everton, Barcelona and Ajax in the past.

"There is only a finite interest in this sort of deal in the City.

"It's a specialist area and it's small change for the big firms, so it ends up being a small market place.

"£75m is on the high side, but not inconceivable. Its at the top end of what they could reasonably expect to raise.

"The problem is there is no guarantee that all those extra seats will be sold. If you are lending money at 6pc interest, at that level of return, you don't want to be taking risks. As soon as it looks risky, the rate goes up," Mr Dow said.

SEPTEMBER 23
Two weeks that changed the ground rules

Daily Post

SEPT 6: Daily Post business editor Bill Gleeson exclusively reveals that the NWDA has approached Liverpool FC to consider the possibility of a ground share with Everton.

SEPT 13: A vote on the Daily Post's website icliverpool.co.uk shows the votes of 5,000 fans split 53pc-47pc against a ground share.

SEPT 15: Liverpool FC says it will not forget the residents of Anfield as it prepares to submit planning application for its own new stadium on Stanley Park on October 3.

SEPT 18: Liverpool city council enters the fray and urges the clubs to look at the possibility of a ground share.

SEPT 19: Public sector sources reveal £30m of public money could be made available for a shared stadium.

SEPT 22: Liverpool and Everton chief executives meet the NWDA and Liverpool council leaders at secret location to discuss ground share.

SEPTEMBER 22
Parry: Business as usual with Stanley Park move

LFC Official Website

Representatives from Liverpool Football Club today met with the North West Development Agency (NWDA), Liverpool City Council and officials from Everton FC.

Chief Executive Rick Parry commented: "NWDA support for our stadium project is key to its success, which is why we were happy to meet them today. It gave us the opportunity to explain just how far advanced our plans are and reiterate our commitment to Stanley Park, the amount of work undertaken and considerable investment that has already gone into the project over the last three years.

"We also outlined the benefits to the whole community. The Stadium will be a central pillar of the regeneration of North Liverpool, which is why the club does not want to consider any other sites proposed within the city. The NWDA's support for those plans is very welcome indeed.

"However, we made clear the timescales involved are now critical if the stadium is ready for 2006 and the regeneration package completed in time for the European Capital of Culture in 2008. That is why our planning application will be submitted as scheduled at the beginning of October.

"We understand why the NWDA wishes to raise the issue of groundsharing, but we also understand the fundamental importance of this issue to our fans and their emotional concerns about a shared ground. These discussions will at least give the opportunity for the pros - and the cons - to be debated.

"In the meantime, it's business as usual and we will continue to press ahead with our own stadium proposals in the Park."

SEPTEMBER 19
Liverpool to ignore city council ground share call

By Jeremy Butler - Reuters

Liverpool are to ignore a call from the city council to ground share with rivals Everton and will press on with their own plans for a new stadium in Stanley Park, says chief executive Rick Parry.

Liverpool council chief executive David Henshaw has urged the two Merseyside clubs to consider sharing a single stadium and the council have suggested the idea will receive funding.

But Parry revealed that Liverpool intend to apply for planning permission in the next two weeks and hope to start work on their new home next year.

They intend to have the ground, and its local community facilities, ready before the prestigious City of Culture event is held in Liverpool in 2007.

"This is no false dawn. We are working round the clock to put the funding packages in place," Parry told the Liverpool website.

"We've spent millions so far in putting together a robust and deliverable project, but the timescales are now absolutely critical.

"It's vital for the City of Culture programme that the stadium is open for the start of the 2006-07 season so work can be completed on the Anfield Plaza and associated projects.

"We need to start building in 2004. That is why the planning application for the new stadium will be going to the city council within the next two weeks, because any delays are going to make the project untenable."

FUTURE SUCCESS

Despite the advanced state of Liverpool's plans, Henshaw believes they should still consider sharing with Everton.

"The future success of both clubs -- both on and off the field -- is critical to the future success of the whole city," he told the Liverpool Echo.

"We are at a crucial time for the future of Anfield and Goodison Park. It is important that all the options are carefully and thoroughly examined. That must include the ground-sharing option.

"There are many positive advantages for both clubs in sharing a stadium -- not least the substantial savings to them in building a new ground and in running costs -- money which could be spent by them on team development."

Everton are keen to leave their cramped home at Goodison Park, which holds 40,170 but is difficult to expand due to its location.

A recent bid to move to Liverpool's Kings Dock has failed to materialise, but any plans to ground share are sure to face opposition from supporters.

Liverpool's Anfield stadium holds 45,362 compared to the 68,210 champions Manchester United can seat at Old Trafford and the 52,193 capacity at Newcastle United's St James' Park.

SEPTEMBER 18
Mersey rivals urged to groundshare

BBC Sport Online

Liverpool and Everton have been asked by the city council to attend talks about sharing a stadium.

The council has revealed public money could be available for such a project, which they feel would benefit the entire area.

Liverpool Council chief executive David Henshaw said in the Liverpool Echo: "The future success of both clubs - both on and off the field - is critical to the future success of the whole city.

"It is important that all the options are carefully and thoroughly examined. That must include the ground-sharing option."

Liverpool council leader Mike Storey stressed the council is not taking a view on whether a ground-share would be a good or bad idea.

But he said: "Substantial funding may be available to support the building of a joint stadium."

Liverpool are poised to submit a planning application at the beginning of October for a multi-million pound stadium in Stanley Park.

Everton's long-running bid to move from Goodison has so far proved unsuccessful, with plans to move to a waterfront development at King's Dock the latest to fail to get off the ground.

SEPTEMBER 17
Joint stadium could benefit Reds and Blues

By David Prentice Chief Sports Writer - icLiverpool

The clock is ticking on the prospect of Everton and Liverpool sharing a stadium, before the topic has even been properly debated.

The proposal was first voiced back in 1966, by Liverpool's visionary secretary Peter Robinson. The issue was raised again this month when North West Development Agency spoke out in support. But after October 3 it could vanish for good.

That is the date Liverpool Football Club submits a planning application for a new £100m super stadium.

Once that is passed and the foundation stones laid for Liverpool's new home, the possibility will recede permanently.

Numerous obstacles prevent the idea even being discussed, notably the reluctance of leading figures at both clubs to even consider the prospect.

Both David Moores and Bill Kenwright are acknowledged groundshare sceptics.

But if a shared stadium meant Liverpool spending £50m rather than £100m they would surely consider the idea. And with Everton still recovering from the blow of the Kings Dock collapse, and shoring up their 111 year old stadium the only viable alternative at present - they could also be convinced of the benefits of sharing.

Professor Alan Harding, of the Centre for Sustainable Urban and Regional Futures (SURF) at Salford University, is adamant ground-sharing makes sense.

He first aired his views on the Everton website Toffee-web in April 2001, when Everton's move to the Kings Dock arena was still viable.

But his views remain valid. "I find it incredible that no-one among the club's board members has been prepared, at least in public, even to go as far as considering the advantages of this alternative," he said.

"It would obviously be cheaper for the clubs to build and maintain one ground rather than two. New stadiums are staggeringly expensive and no-one makes the decision to up sticks lightly.

Some clubs - Manchester United is the obvious example - are lucky enough to be able to expand into the surrounding neighbourhood without too much trouble. Everton and Liverpool cannot.

"It will be a tremendous wrench for the fans when the gates close at Anfield for the last time. But we all know it's going to happen. Just take a look around the city, at what is happening in the docks, the city centre, Speke and Garston. Slowly, but surely, the city is being refitted for the needs of the 21st century. Football is inevitably getting caught up in this change.

"Wouldn't the money the clubs could save by building just one ground be better used in trying to establish new footballing dynasties?

"Seen like this, isn't the ground sharing option a potential boost to the prosperity of both clubs and some-thing that can help guarantee, rather than threaten, their independence?

"Most importantly, the clubs literally have a once in a lifetime opportunity to combine their strengths for the good of the city as well as themselves.

"Building one new stadium would give the clubs a chance to try something more imaginative than either could contemplate alone. Together they could build something of international importance and prestige and send a message to the world about the city's place in the global game.

"Gone are the days when clubs were happy to see their biggest asset lie empty 98 per cent of the time. In the last couple of years I've visited Pride Park, the Stadium of Light and the JJB Stadium - each time to visit conferences.

"The city's two great football clubs have one chance to break with the old ways of thinking and consider a truly radical change. If they do not take it, the issue is dead for another century at least."

'Follow San Siro example'

Professor Harding believes Everton and Liverpool can follow the Italian example, where clubs like Milan and Inter, Genoa and Sampdoria and Lazio and Roma have shared stadia for years.

"Why not?" he said. "Genoa and Sampdoria have cohabited happily for many years. But even more relevant to Merseyside, what about AC Milan and Internazionale? Football clubs don't come much bigger than these two and you have to travel a long way to find supporters as passionate in their rivalry as the Milanese.

"And yet the two clubs share the San Siro without there being so much as a hint of their independence being compromised. Why couldn't the same happen in Liverpool?"

He added: "There is something unique in the Liverpool air that makes the city's football clubs leading candidates for partnership. Everton and Liverpool fans are passionate about their teams, but they are also the friendliest rivals in the country. There is a long and proud tradition of tolerance and camaraderie between the two sets of supporters."

SEPTEMBER 16
Reds in new stadium vow

TEAMtalk

Liverpool FC have promised that the regeneration of the whole of Anfield is in their thinking - not just the siting of a new stadium.

The club's planning application for a new £250m stadium in Stanley Park goes in front of Liverpool City Council next month and they have pledged not to sideline the local people and their concerns.

Residents have expressed fears that they would lose out on the promise of a major make-over for the area because of the new stadium proposals.

But a club spokesman said: "The club will be taking into account the regeneration of the whole area in its plans to redevelop a stadium.

"The planning application is just for the stadium, but as part of the planning application process, information about what is planned in terms of regeneration for the whole community is included.

"This is something that has followed extensive dialogue with the community in the last three years.

"The club sees the new stadium as a catalyst for the regeneration of the entire area, which will be to the benefit of the whole community."

But the Anfield Regeneration Action Committee set up three years ago to fight the stadium move says it has not ben presented with any definite plans to the areas facelift.

Around 1,400 homes will be demolished to make for the new ground but residents say they do not know which ones.

FEBRUARY 16
New ground moves closer

TEAMtalk

Work is underway on the first phase of the £250m scheme which will eventually take in Liverpool's move to a new stadium in Stanley Park.

The club is expected to finalise the planning application within the next month or so, with the stadium set to be sited at one end of Stanley Park.

Initial objections to the plans for the new 60,000 all-seater stadium appear to have become minimal after 19,000 households in the area were canvassed, with 58 per cent in favour of the ambitious scheme.

Liverpool Football Club director of finance Les Wheatley said: "We have always seen the building of a new stadium as a catalyst for the regeneration of Anfield and hope to work with the community to improve the area."

He added: "We hope a planning application will be available by late spring."

JANUARY 10
Reds' 60,000 goal

By Kevin Core - Daily Post

Liverpool FC's chief executive last night revealed the new Stanley Park stadium will have a 60,000 capacity.

The stadium - the centrepiece of a massive regeneration of the Anfield area - was previously understood to have been planned to hold just 55,000.

The news, which was revealed by Rick Parry at the club's Annual General Meeting last night, will be greeted warmly by fans who felt that the proposed the capacity of the new develop-ment was not enough.

Mr Parry said: "The maximum capacity for an expanded Anfield is 55,000, we can't get above that. We used that as the base rate for the study into the new stadium, but that didn't mean we intended to build a 55,000 seater stadium.

"The reality is it will be around 60,000 capacity."

He told the Daily Post: "I'm aware it's something that the fans will view positively. There is still a phenomenal amount of work going on but that is the capacity we are leaning towards."

A planning application for the scheme is expected to be submitted within the next few weeks and the new ground could be ready for the 2005/6 season.

Mr Parry also spoke about the need to juggle the feelings of traditionalists and those who have huge expectations for the new ground, saying: "Sometimes the postbag is asking why aren't we building a 100,000 seater stadium, and sometimes it's asking us to stay where we are."

Mr Parry added: "We have worked at our relationship with our neighbours over a three-year period.

"Following our consultation we received 60pc backing for the Stanley Park development from local people.

"Support from the residents for the new scheme is very heartening from our point of view. It will be a catalyst for regeneration in North Liverpool."

Finance Director Les Wheatley told the AGM pre-tax profits were up 2,000pc to £9.09m - helped on by the club's Champion's League run - with wages contained at 56pc of the 2002 turnover, £98.7m.

Despite some shareholders anxiety about the levels of wage expense, an ebullient Gerard Houllier seemed relaxed, drawing on a business analogy. He cited the current run as the natural consequence of any period of sustained growth.

And he told shareholders: "On behalf of myself and the staff, I would like to thank you for your support, it went straight to my heart. And you know how much the heart means to me."
 

Thor Zakariassen ©