FORMER Everton FC chief executive Keith Wyness has launched a stinging attack on Liverpool Council leader Warren Bradley.

In a letter to today’s Daily Post, Mr Wyness said the city council only made a “half hearted effort” to find a site in Liverpool where the club could build a new ground.

“Mr Bradley, in my opinion acted poorly throughout the whole process and I believe the city deserves much better in terms of leadership,” Mr Wyness wrote.

In a detailed response, Cllr Bradley last night said he was baffled and felt personally insulted by the letter and said the council had “bent over backwards” to help the club.

He said the main stumbling block to Everton remaining in Liverpool was the “huge amount of retail” that the club wanted to build alongside a new ground to help cross subsidise the cost.

He also revealed:

the council had suggested alternative ways of funding a ground through a share rights issue or using a greater mixed use scheme;

he had attempted to broker ground share talks between Liverpool FC and Everton, but neither club was interested.

Mr Wyness’s letter was prompted by revelations in the Daily Post on Monday that the city council had spent £265,000 fighting Everton FC’s proposal to relocate to Kirkby alongside supermarket Tesco.

He left the club last July, and although he still lives in Merseyside an air of mystery continues to surround his shock departure.

In his letter, he stated: “In the article, Warren Bradley states that Everton ‘had already boarded the train with Knowsley Council and Tesco at that point’.

“This is simply not true.

“Everton went to see Mr Bradley on several occasions to ask the city if there were any options available within the city.

“The city even commissioned a report which showed there was nothing that was deliverable. However, it appeared to be a very half- hearted effort.