Everton threatens to sue KEIOC for defamation

Apr 2 2008 by Richard Down, Liverpool Daily Post

EVERTON FC’s bid to move to Kirkby is unlikely to go before the authority’s plan-ners until July at the earliest.

The club has also been accused of being heavy-handed after serving a group protesting against the stadium move with notice of a legal action for defamation.

The controversial applica-tion to site the new Everton stadium in Kirkby had originally been expected to seek planning permission this month but is likely to be put back until the May local elections are concluded.

It is understood the deci-sion is thought too highly charged to be dealt with ahead of the elections when a whole new party will contest traditional Labour safe seats in Kirkby.

Long held council wards are being challenged by First For Kirkby which is putting the finishing touches to its election campaign launch. It intends to put up three candidates to contest West-field, Cherryfield and Central.

Meanwhile, Everton FC has threatened to sue campaign group Keep Everton In Our City (KEIOC).

It is focused on the asser-tion on KEIOC’s website that the Everton fans ballot over the stadium move last summer was unfair.

Club spokesman Ian Ross said: “The simple truth is that we’re no longer prepared to have what we believe to be defamatory statements made about the club, its employees or the manner in which we staged the fans ballot.”

Club solicitors demanded that “if offending passages (were) not removed (from the KEIOC website) by no later than close of business on Friday, March 28, our client will be forced to take action against you, including bringing any actions for defamation.”

KEIOC last night called the action wholly unnecessary and heavy-handed. The campaign group claims it is made up of life-long Everton-ians who only have the best interests of the club at heart.

They have written an open letter to Keith Wyness claim-ing they are “astonished and saddened that you (Everton) feel it necessary to communi-cate with KEIOC via the club’s solicitors. A simple email would suffice in attract-ing our attention to your concerns and requests.

“It is totally unnecessary and, with the greatest respect to them, written without knowledge of the full facts and issues surrounding this whole sorry saga.”

In response the campaign-ers have reissued their chall-enge to Everton representa-tives to hold a public debate on the matter.

Campaign group spokes-man Dave Kelly said: “I’m happy for ‘The People’s Club’ versus the people to be heard in court if it comes to that. But communicating through solicitors isn’t productive and to have an adult future relationship, we want open public debate at the St George’s Hall.”

The campaigners seem undeterred and plan to emblazon their opposition on a billboard attached to the side of Goodison Park.

richarddown