ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

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I think I am right in thinking that the exclusivity period between EFC and Tesco is coming to an end, or indeed may have just ended. What I don't like is the fact that there appears to be no alternative, certainly if you listen to the club. It is either get behind the Kirkby move, or be left behind at Goodison.

I think we need Liverpool City Council to come out with some clear sites which could potentially be used as new sites for a future EFC ground. This will force the club's hand, they would then have to give valid reasons as to why those sites are not being considered. While there are only rumours about Walton Hall Park, Speke etc, the club doesn't have to come out and respond.

Presumably the construction costs will be pretty much the same wherever the ground is built. This means, if I am right, that there are 2 main questions to be answered:

Will Tesco come with us and carry out the same plan on a different site, provided it met their own criteria? Because sadly we couldn't afford to do this on our own.
Can we afford somehow to purchase the land in Liverpool? I feel this would be the preferred option for most people. This might cost say £50 million, but long term that is not a horrendous amount, especially if Tesco are going to stump up a fair bit of the construction costs, although I don't know where we would find this money from.
I cannot believe the club are carrying out this vote with no Plan B. Most people I know want to move, love the look of the new stadium, BUT want to remain in the city. I fear the question in the ballot will simply be stay or go, which will divide most people, who want to go, just not outside the city. I feel that a feasible alternative in the city would be the clear winner in a 3 horse race (staying at Goodison, Kirkby or another site in the city), but whether we get that choice remains to be seen...
Danny Broderick, London Posted 20/07/2007 at 16:36:34

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Dave Roberts
1 Posted 20/07/2007 at 19:30:44

The Plan B is that we stay at Goodison. This is simply because there are no other options that the Club can afford. £150m Plan B’s can’t be conjured up from nowhere.

Danny Broderick
2 Posted 20/07/2007 at 20:01:34

Dave, sorry to correct you but to quote Keith Wyness, ?If we have to carry on at Goodison, there will be serious issues.
?Attendance numbers will go down and then revenue will go down and when that happens, you can?t compete. There is no Plan B. There is no other option.?
Even if we are to stay at Goodison and redevelop the other 3 sides of the ground, I am guessing this would cost up to £100 million. What I am saying Dave is that this money could be used to buy suitable land instead of redeveloping Goodison. Selling Goodison would get us £15 million for starters. And if the location was right, Tesco could carry out what they plan to do for us within the city.

Brian Waring
3 Posted 20/07/2007 at 20:11:47

I just read Warren Bradley’s interview.And to me it seems there is options open to Kenwright and Co.Bradley stating possible sites(Scotty road sounds good to me)and there are comercial partners intrested.Now,I know there will be the usual suspects calling it a load of bullshit,but I wonder how seriously Kenwright will take it.I,m not saying it is as easy as that,but it does no harm to explore all avenues open to us.

Dave Southword
4 Posted 20/07/2007 at 20:19:46

This is not an MK Dons situation. We are moving 4 miles to a spot just outside the council boundary. It is still Liverpool as far as I am concerned, just because central government in London have carved the local councils up in this way doesn’t change that.

Danny Broderick
5 Posted 20/07/2007 at 20:39:04

I agree Dave, but I would prefer to stay within the city limits to be honest, given the choice. I would like to think that the club have explored all the options open to them before they decide to move out to Kirkby. If they can legitimately say that all options have been explored and that moving to Kirkby is the best thing for us, I would go there willingly. But at the moment I am not convinced that it is in our best interests...

Shaun Brennan
6 Posted 20/07/2007 at 20:40:07

Tesco are wanting a site in Kirkby because it is of upmost commercial importance.

Like most large companys they produce market research/procurement as to which area is viable. Kirkby falls under this category. As far as i am aware there isn’t a large supermarket in Kirkby only the crappy like kwik save types and they are going bust.

The thing that gets too me Wyness is allowed to use his position for his own interests something which has never been denied. So too line his own pockets, wonder what single deal can make him the most. Up the stadium and move it? No club makes one single payment which is bigger than this.

John Charles
7 Posted 22/07/2007 at 01:59:25

Yeah Shaun is right, Tesco want the Kirkby site. City centre has a lower population radius area and alread has supermarkets and lots of retail (including the new unopened whole new center by paradise street).

Kirkby isnt just a tesco store they are building, tis a whole new town centre retail development. Tesco are banking on getting there 50m back through this development’s income over the years - they arent just doing it "cos it will be fun to give everton 50m rips!"

they need a return business plan and Kirkby delivers that as no city in Liverpool city centre certainly can.