THE Government has demanded Liverpool FC speed up its decision on whether to stay at Anfield or move to a new ground on Stanley Park.

Tory housing minister Grant Shapps has written to LFC managing director Ian Ayre saying the delay is causing unnecessary uncertainty for the local community that had been left in limbo.

Mr Ayre reacted angrily to Mr Shapps’s intervention.

“It is extremely disappointing that Mr Shapps should publicly point the finger at Liverpool FC and claim that they alone are delaying the regeneration of the local area, when he is fully aware of the impact of central government cutbacks on the whole city,” said Mr Ayre.

“In particular, the demise of the Housing Market Renewal Initiative seven years into a 15-year programme in Anfield has created huge uncertainty for the local community which dwarfs the effect any delay on a stadium has had.”

Mr Shapps said: “In the interests of the wider community, the club needs to make a swift decision on whether they plan to build a new stadium or stay where they are.”