ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Stadium debate continues to rage

In all the articles both for and against one thing has not, in my opinion, clearly been understood. Goodison is falling down ? in several years we will not get safety certificates or at worst have to operate at vastly reduced capacity. So we have to move or re-develop and fast.

Option 1 - Re-development of Goodison is EFC financed (and we have no money), time consuming and we could not survive the loss of income during construction.

Option 2 - Build a new state of the art, iconic new stadium somewhere. I believe if this was an option, the fans would give a resounding vote to stay in Liverpool. Problem - cost say £250 million but we have no money.

Option 3 ? get into bed with someone with money to make it affordable ie Tesco & Kirkby.

So far no debate option 3 is the only solution.

However, is Kenwright keeping investors at bay, or in collusion with those who would fund option 1 or 2? This ploy would make financially sense all round. At the moment Kenwright would get very little for his shares if an investor had to put funding for a new stadium up front. However, wait for the stadium to be built, add £250 million to the balance sheet and this make his shares very attractive.

Result - Bill gets a shedload of cash and investors pick up EFC for peanuts in real terms.

Losers ? Everton brand name and Everton loyal fans. I can still hear the chant at the derby ? ?F off to Kirkby!?
Andrew Mahon, Crosby Posted 20/11/2007 at 16:51:47

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Jay Harris
1 Posted 20/11/2007 at 20:42:30

Any fool who thinks EFC wont have to fund KIrkby needs to check in at a mental hospital.
In my opinion having reasonable experience of multi million pound developments all 3 options would cost similar amounts.
The only difference is the amount of subsidies from Council/Govmt/Other investors.
Contrary to popular opinion Tesco are not helping EFC fund Kirkby they are just what?s called enabling partners and we could get exactly the same sort of deal from LCC if they and EFC got their act together.
I also do not believe it would cost that much to redevelop Goodison.The only difference is the subsidies and it would have to be done in stages although I still think it could be ready before the cowshed is finished.

Tom Morris
2 Posted 20/11/2007 at 22:05:27

Jesus effing christ.

Does this nonsense never end ?

Bill Kenwright, is only interested in making money out of Everton ?

I just give up. I really do.

Phil Bossian
3 Posted 20/11/2007 at 22:43:48

Well summed up Andrew...my sentiments almost to the word

Sean Allinson
4 Posted 21/11/2007 at 00:56:09

Why do people persist in this hysterical nonsense. Can someone please point me to an independent report where Goodison is given a time limit?

Tom Hughes
5 Posted 21/11/2007 at 08:04:41

Someone should tell Rangers who have spent a fortune putting an extra tier on their Leitch mainstand..... it’s all wasted and they’ll have to knock it down soon. Simon Inglis the author of the current green guide to safety at stadia, says no new legislation applies to these old stands only proposed new stands, unless some new rules are contravened which have always been resolved within existing structures. These stands have stood the test of time literally. They’re not ideal in some respects, but they do function and have done for generations.

Tom Tibb
6 Posted 21/11/2007 at 10:27:59

Andrew,

Dont you see that Wyness has stated it will cost Everton £50-80 million to pay for Kirkby. There is no free meal here....

Just think what we could do with that kind of money in the City centre or in redeveloping Goodison....

Think about it please