Overlooked. Look Here

In the great stadium debate, I remain undecided but I reckon several factors are being overlooked, to a lesser or greater extent.

In the great stadium debate, I remain undecided but I reckon several factors are being overlooked, to a lesser or greater extent. Some relate to phrases I keep on hearing such as, "Find a site elsewhere in the city". Another, of increasing concern to me, relates to the youth of the city and the Merseyside economy.

"Find a site elsewhere in the city"

Not financially realistic, said Keith Wyness at a Shareholders Association forum in March, and it seems to me a plausible argument.

We don't have the money to build a new stadium, so the only way we can do it is with a commercial partner and, realistically, such a partner is only likely to come from the retail sector.

However, a huge shopping complex, Liverpool 1, is being built in the city centre. As a result, the chances of a new significantly-sized retail project going ahead in the city is minimal because it would struggle to compete with Liverpool 1 (Cue graffiti on its signage: Everton 5) and as a result it would struggle to get planning permission.

I love the idea of a stadium at Scotland Road, a short walk from the city centre. But I would refer you to the above.

Regards the sometimes seemingly lukewarm attitude of the city council, I suspect we annoyed some senior bods there not only when we withdrew from the Kings Dock project, but also when we told them we would not be building our new training complex on the land they had offered us at the former Lee Manor School, Netherley.

"What's in it for Tesco?"

I think it's something to do with national planning policy whereby they can only get permission in some areas if they subsidise some other project under some Section Umpteen rule. I'm sure some other Toffeewebber could explain this one properly. Would be a public service.

"It's A Done Deal"

I've heard this from several people who was "speaking to someone who knows/was speaking to..." I wouldn't be too surprised if a gentlemen's agreement had been reached to proceed with the plan. But I don't believe that any such deal would be signed and sealed. I was intrigued to hear Keith Wyness tell that Shareholders Association forum in March that the plans were close to going over budget although nobody seemed to mention this afterwards.

"If we move to Kirkby, youngsters in the city will stop supporting Everton."

It's my perception that we are already suffering "slippage", at least in the south of the city where I live. It's understandable really with this televisual generation. A 16-year-old Blue might just remember the 1995 FA Cup final. Since then, there's been no trophies, no cup final dramas, not even any semi-finals and very few heroes. And given all the European games that Liverpool have had, I would suggest we have been on live TV half as much as they have, probably less even.

However, our schoolboy Blues tend to be top quality supporters and it's my perception that a far higher proportion of schoolboy Blues attend games than schoolboy reds.

We will be relying a lot on these lads in years to come - and that's what's worrying me. Will they be able to afford to go to the game? Whether it be played at Goodison or Kirkby.

Despite all the hype over the last four years since Liverpool was named European Capital of Culture 2008, youth unemployment in the city remains high and, with the way things are going, I believe it will get higher. The Government doesn't do youth unemployment figures any more, or if they do, they bury them.

However they do admit to NEETS (Not in Employment, Education or Training). Don't scratch your head, just bear me out. According to a study carried out for The Prince's Trust by the London School of Economics, published in April, the proportion of NEETS nationally is around 18 per cent, roughly one in five. That's a heck of a lot.

As general unemployment-related figures for Liverpool have tended to be double the national average, I'd estimate the city's NEETS to be at least 30 per cent, quite possibly even 50 per cent in some areas of the city. And if you turn to the young ones who do have jobs, most of those won't be earning much.

So the question I ask is: How many of today's teenage Evertonians will be able to afford adult Premiership prices in three, five, ten years's time?

For me, whether we are in or out of the city, this is one of the most important aspects of this debate. Goodison or Kirkby: Which will offer the more affordable ticket prices?

Finally, if we do build a new stadium, can we have some good old-fashioned building trade apprenticeships for young Evertonians, please?

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